INTRODUCTION: Most visits to the primary care center are for infection and particularly respiratory tract infection. Antimicrobial administration for these clinical processes is common and these agents are often used to treat viral infections. La Fundación para el Estudio de la Infección (Foundation for the Study of Infection) designed the DIRA (Día de la Infección Respiratoria del Adulto, Adult Respiratory Infection Day) Project to investigate and assess the impact of this problem. METHODS: The study design consisted of one-day cross sections with the participation of 720 physicians belonging to Primary Health Care Centers from the 17 Autonomic Regions of Spain, establishing a one-day cross section every three months for one year. Epidemiologic, clinical and therapeutic factors were evaluated. RESULTS: The total number of visits attended was 72 929, and 14 426 patients had infectious processes (43.9%). Among these, 9145 (63.4%) had a respiratory infection. The mean age of the patients was 44.6 years and 34.1% had an underlying condition. Common cold was the most frequent diagnosis. Antibiotics were prescribed in 53.2% of patients. Results were compared to those of a previous study. DISCUSSION: Infection in general and respiratory infection in particular is frequently attended in primary care. Antibiotics are widely used in our setting and self-medication is common.
INTRODUCTION: Most visits to the primary care center are for infection and particularly respiratory tract infection. Antimicrobial administration for these clinical processes is common and these agents are often used to treat viral infections. La Fundación para el Estudio de la Infección (Foundation for the Study of Infection) designed the DIRA (Día de la Infección Respiratoria del Adulto, Adult Respiratory Infection Day) Project to investigate and assess the impact of this problem. METHODS: The study design consisted of one-day cross sections with the participation of 720 physicians belonging to Primary Health Care Centers from the 17 Autonomic Regions of Spain, establishing a one-day cross section every three months for one year. Epidemiologic, clinical and therapeutic factors were evaluated. RESULTS: The total number of visits attended was 72 929, and 14 426 patients had infectious processes (43.9%). Among these, 9145 (63.4%) had a respiratory infection. The mean age of the patients was 44.6 years and 34.1% had an underlying condition. Common cold was the most frequent diagnosis. Antibiotics were prescribed in 53.2% of patients. Results were compared to those of a previous study. DISCUSSION: Infection in general and respiratory infection in particular is frequently attended in primary care. Antibiotics are widely used in our setting and self-medication is common.
Authors: Carles Llor; Josep María Cots; Lars Bjerrum; Marina Cid; Gloria Guerra; Xavier Arranz; Manuel Gómez; María José Monedero; Juan de Dios Alcántara; Carolina Pérez; Guillermo García; Jesús Ortega; María Luisa Cigüenza; Vicenta Pineda; José Paredes; Juan Luis Burgazzoli; Silvia Hernández Journal: Aten Primaria Date: 2009-08-26 Impact factor: 1.137
Authors: Carl Llor; Ana Moragas; Carolina Bayona; Rosa Morros; Helena Pera; Josep M Cots; Yvonne Fernández; Marc Miravitlles; Albert Boada Journal: BMC Pulm Med Date: 2011-06-21 Impact factor: 3.317
Authors: Mariam de la Poza Abad; Gemma Mas Dalmau; Mikel Moreno Bakedano; Ana Isabel González González; Yolanda Canellas Criado; Silvia Hernández Anadón; Rafael Rotaeche del Campo; Pere Torán Monserrat; Antonio Negrete Palma; Guillem Pera; Eulàlia Borrell Thió; Carl Llor; Paul Little; Pablo Alonso Coello Journal: BMC Fam Pract Date: 2013-05-19 Impact factor: 2.497