Antimicrobial agents in lower respiratory tract infections in Dutch general practice

This study describes the prescription of antimicrobial agents in cases of l ower respiratory tract infections in Dutch general practice. A secondary an alysis of data from the National Study of Illness and Procedures of The Net herlands institute of Primary Health Care (a nationwide group of 161 genera l practitioners with data from 334 449 patients) had been carried out. Anti microbial agents were prescribed in 30% of all contacts: in about half of t he first contacts and contacts for recurrences, and in one out of six repea t contacts. The prescription rates were associated with diagnosis and reaso n for encounter but rarely with older age or comorbidity. Amoxycillin and d oxycycline were most frequently prescribed While most lower respiratory tra ct infections are virus-induced and antibiotics are not effective in most c ases, antimicrobial agents might still be overprescribed.