Work

Post-pandemic consumption of outpatient antibiotics in Switzerland up to pre-pandemic levels, 2018–2023: An interrupted time series analysis

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge for health-care systems and antibiotic stewards as uncertainty regarding treatment and bacterial coinfections raised concern.Methods: This retrospective observational study examined the association of the pandemic on outpatient antibiotic sales and prescriptions in Switzerland using interrupted time series (ITS) analyses.Data from IQVIA™ and the Sentinella Network were used to analyze antibiotic consumption and prescription patterns over a 72-month period from January 2018 to December 2023, divided into pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods.Results: Antibiotic consumption decreased during the pandemic and returned to pre-pandemic levels in the postpandemic period.A decrease in level was most pronounced in the French-speaking region (-2.82 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day (DID) per month, 95 %CI [-4.34, -1.30], p < 0.001) and the Italianspeaking region (-2.80 DID per month, 95 %CI [-4.78, -0.82], p < 0.01), followed by the German-speaking region (-1.72 DID per month, 95 %CI [-2.71, -0.74], p < 0.01).Similarly, in the ITS, the relative change of model estimates in antibiotic prescriptions by GPs and pediatricians for upper respiratory tract infections, was of -36.0 % and -50.3 % resp. in the pandemic period and +10.1 % and -2.6 % in the post-pandemic period compared with the pre-pandemic period.Conclusions: A decrease of antibiotic prescriptions was observed in GPs and pediatricians during the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by a return to pre-pandemic levels.The patterns in antibiotic prescriptions aligned with the epidemiology of respiratory infections and demonstrated a pronounced association with the implementation and subsequent removal of non-pharmaceutical interventions.

Source: CMI Communications

DOI: 10.1016/j.cmicom.2024.105037

Authors: Catherine Plüss-Suard, Olivier Friedli, Anton Labutin, Michael Gasser, Yolanda Mueller, Andreas Kronenberg

Institutions: University of Bern, Federal Office of Public Health, Centre universitaire de médecine générale et santé publique, Lausanne, University of Lausanne

Language: English

Topic: Antibiotic Use and Resistance

Subfield: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,520