BACKGROUND: Interest has been shown in the use of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this article we present the consumption of systemic antibiotics in Norway during the period of the pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Total sales of systemic antibiotics in defined daily doses (DDD) were retrieved from the wholesaler-based medicinal product statistics for 2019 and 2020, and sales of antibiotics for use outside of healthcare institutions were retrieved from the Norwegian prescription database. Information was retrieved on the proportion of users (prevalence), doses (measured in DDD) and prescriptions. RESULTS: Total sales of systemic antibiotics increased in March 2020, but sales to persons outside of healthcare institutions did not. Compared to previous years, both total consumption and use of antibiotics outside of institutions fell steeply in the months that followed. The reduction was greatest for antibiotics against respiratory infections and in the youngest age groups. INTERPRETATION: The significant reduction in the use of systemic antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic is attributed to infection control measures and reduced contact with the health service. In 2016, the Norwegian government set a goal for a 30 % reduction in antibiotic use by the end of 2020. The pandemic has contributed to the achievement of that goal.
BACKGROUND: Interest has been shown in the use of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this article we present the consumption of systemic antibiotics in Norway during the period of the pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Total sales of systemic antibiotics in defined daily doses (DDD) were retrieved from the wholesaler-based medicinal product statistics for 2019 and 2020, and sales of antibiotics for use outside of healthcare institutions were retrieved from the Norwegian prescription database. Information was retrieved on the proportion of users (prevalence), doses (measured in DDD) and prescriptions. RESULTS: Total sales of systemic antibiotics increased in March 2020, but sales to persons outside of healthcare institutions did not. Compared to previous years, both total consumption and use of antibiotics outside of institutions fell steeply in the months that followed. The reduction was greatest for antibiotics against respiratory infections and in the youngest age groups. INTERPRETATION: The significant reduction in the use of systemic antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic is attributed to infection control measures and reduced contact with the health service. In 2016, the Norwegian government set a goal for a 30 % reduction in antibiotic use by the end of 2020. The pandemic has contributed to the achievement of that goal.
Authors: Malcolm B Gillies; David P Burgner; Lorraine Ivancic; Natasha Nassar; Jessica E Miller; Sheena G Sullivan; Isobel M F Todd; Sallie-Anne Pearson; Andrea L Schaffer; Helga Zoega Journal: Br J Clin Pharmacol Date: 2021-08-17 Impact factor: 3.716
Authors: Eva Gerbier; Guillaume Favre; Fatima Tauqeer; Ursula Winterfeld; Milos Stojanov; Alison Oliver; Anneke Passier; Hedvig Nordeng; Léo Pomar; David Baud; Alice Panchaud; Carla Meyer-Massetti; Michael Ceulemans Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-04-27 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Michael Ceulemans; Veerle Foulon; Alice Panchaud; Ursula Winterfeld; Léo Pomar; Valentine Lambelet; Brian Cleary; Fergal O'Shaughnessy; Anneke Passier; Jonathan Luke Richardson; Hedvig Nordeng Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-01-26 Impact factor: 3.390