USE OF MICROBIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSTICS AND ANTIBIOTICS IN DANISH GENERAL-PRACTICE

This article analyzes the use of antibiotics in Danish general practic e. We observed considerable variation in the prescription of antibioti cs among general practitioners (GPs). Internationally, Denmark has a l ow consumption of antibiotics. The use of antibiotics was closely asso ciated with GPs' use of drugs, other than antibiotics, and to some ext ent with use of microbiological diagnostic tests. These findings provi de evidence for the assumption that the consumption of antibiotics can be decreased further, which stresses the need for a restrictive polic y concerning antibiotics.