Antimicrobial agents in lower respiratory tract infections in Dutch general practice.

This study describes the prescription of antimicrobial agents in cases of lower respiratory tract infections in Dutch general practice. A secondary analysis of data from the National Study of Illness and Procedures of The Netherlands Institute of Primary Health Care (a nationwide group of 161 general practitioners with data from 334,449 patients) had been carried out. Antimicrobial agents were prescribed in 30% of all contacts: in about half of the first contacts and contacts for recurrences, and in one out of six repeat contacts. The prescription rates were associated with diagnosis and reason for encounter but rarely with older age or comorbidity. Amoxycillin and doxycycline were most frequently prescribed. While most lower respiratory tract infections are virus-induced and antibiotics are not effective in most cases, antimicrobial agents might still be overprescribed.