Has primary care antimicrobial use really been increasing? Comparison of changes in different prescribing measures for a complete geographic population 1995-2014

Mark D. J. Neilly, Bruce Guthrie, Virginia Hernandez Santiago, Thenmalar Vadiveloo, Peter T. Donnan, Charis A. Marwick (Lead / Corresponding author)

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    Abstract

    Objective: To elucidate how population trends in total antimicrobials dispensed in the community translate into individual exposure.

    Methods: Retrospective, population-based observational study of all antimicrobial prescribing in a Scottish region in financial years 1995, 2000 and 2005-2014. Analysis of temporal changes in all antimicrobials and specific antimicrobials measured in: WHO DDD per 1000 population; prescriptions per 1000 population; proportion of population with ≥1 prescription; mean number of prescriptions per person receiving any; mean DDD per prescription.

    Results: Antimicrobial DDD increased between 1995 and 2014, from 5651 to 6987 per 1000 population (difference 1336 (95%CI 1309 to 1363)). Prescriptions per 1000 fell (from 821 to 667, difference -154, - 151 to -157), as did the proportion prescribed any antimicrobial (from 39.3% to 30.8% (-8.5, -8.4 to - 8.6)). Rising mean DDD per prescription, from 6.88 in 1995 to 10.47 in 2014 (3.59, 3.55 to 3.63), drove rising total DDD. In the under-5s, every measure fell over time (68.2% fall in DDD per 1000; 60.7% fall in prescriptions per1000). Among 5-64 year olds, prescriptions per1000 was lowest in 2014 but among older people, despite a reduction since 2010, the 2014 rate was still higher than in 2000. Trends in individual antimicrobials provide some explanation for overall trends.

    Conclusion: Rising antimicrobial volumes up to 2011 were mainly due to rising DDD per prescription. Trends in dispensed drug volumes do not readily translate into information on individual exposure which is more relevant for adverse consequences including emergence of resistance.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)2921-2930
    Number of pages10
    JournalJournal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
    Volume72
    Issue number10
    Early online date19 Jul 2017
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2017

    Keywords

    • Primary health care
    • Antimicrobials
    • Prescribing behavior

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