TY - JOUR
T1 - A survey study on antibiotic prescription practices for acute asthma exacerbations
T2 - An European academy of allergy and clinical immunology task force report
AU - Redel, Anne Lotte
AU - Feleszko, Wojciech
AU - Arcolaci, Alessandra
AU - Cefaloni, Francesca
AU - Atanaskovic-Markovic, Marina
AU - Braunstahl, Gert Jan
AU - Boccabella, Cristina
AU - Bonini, Matteo
AU - Karavelia, Aspasia
AU - Louwers, Eefje
AU - Mülleneisen, Norbert
AU - O'Mahony, Liam
AU - Pini, Laura
AU - Rapiejko, Anna
AU - Shehu, Esmeralda
AU - Sokolowska, Milena
AU - Untersmayr, Eva
AU - Tramper-Stranders, Gerdien
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors. Clinical and Translational Allergy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
PY - 2024/3
Y1 - 2024/3
N2 - Introduction: Guidelines recommend treating asthma exacerbations (AAEs) with bronchodilators combined with inhaled and/or systemic corticosteroids. Indications for antibiotic prescriptions for AAEs are usually not incorporated although the literature shows antibiotics are frequently prescribed. Aim: To investigate the antibiotic prescription rates in AAEs and explore the possible determining factors of those practices. Methods: A digital survey was created to determine the antibiotic prescription rates in AAEs and the influencing factors for the prescription practices. The survey was distributed among European academy of allergy and clinical immunology (EAACI) members by mass emailing and through regional/national societies in the Netherlands, Italy, Greece, and Poland. Furthermore, we retrieved local antibiotic prescription rates. Results: In total, 252 participants completed the survey. Respondents stated that there is a lack of guidelines to prescribe antibiotics in AAEs. The median antibiotic prescription rate in this study was 19% [IQR: 0%–40%] and was significantly different between 4 professions: paediatrics 0% [IQR: 0%–37%], pulmonologists 25% [IQR: 10%–50%], general practitioners 25% [IQR: 0%–50%], and allergologists 17% [IQR: 0%–33%]) (p = 0.046). Additional diagnostic tests were performed in 71.4% of patients before prescription and the most common antibiotic classes prescribed were macrolides (46.0%) and penicillin (42.9%). Important clinical factors for health care providers to prescribe antibiotics were colorised/purulent sputum, abnormal lung sounds during auscultation, fever, and presence of comorbidities. Conclusion:In 19% of patients with AAEs, antibiotics were prescribed in various classes with a broad range among different subspecialities. This study stresses the urgency to compose evidence-based guidelines to aim for more rational antibiotic prescriptions for AAE.
AB - Introduction: Guidelines recommend treating asthma exacerbations (AAEs) with bronchodilators combined with inhaled and/or systemic corticosteroids. Indications for antibiotic prescriptions for AAEs are usually not incorporated although the literature shows antibiotics are frequently prescribed. Aim: To investigate the antibiotic prescription rates in AAEs and explore the possible determining factors of those practices. Methods: A digital survey was created to determine the antibiotic prescription rates in AAEs and the influencing factors for the prescription practices. The survey was distributed among European academy of allergy and clinical immunology (EAACI) members by mass emailing and through regional/national societies in the Netherlands, Italy, Greece, and Poland. Furthermore, we retrieved local antibiotic prescription rates. Results: In total, 252 participants completed the survey. Respondents stated that there is a lack of guidelines to prescribe antibiotics in AAEs. The median antibiotic prescription rate in this study was 19% [IQR: 0%–40%] and was significantly different between 4 professions: paediatrics 0% [IQR: 0%–37%], pulmonologists 25% [IQR: 10%–50%], general practitioners 25% [IQR: 0%–50%], and allergologists 17% [IQR: 0%–33%]) (p = 0.046). Additional diagnostic tests were performed in 71.4% of patients before prescription and the most common antibiotic classes prescribed were macrolides (46.0%) and penicillin (42.9%). Important clinical factors for health care providers to prescribe antibiotics were colorised/purulent sputum, abnormal lung sounds during auscultation, fever, and presence of comorbidities. Conclusion:In 19% of patients with AAEs, antibiotics were prescribed in various classes with a broad range among different subspecialities. This study stresses the urgency to compose evidence-based guidelines to aim for more rational antibiotic prescriptions for AAE.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85188239129&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/clt2.12345
DO - 10.1002/clt2.12345
M3 - Article
C2 - 38497844
AN - SCOPUS:85188239129
SN - 2045-7022
VL - 14
JO - Clinical and Translational Allergy
JF - Clinical and Translational Allergy
IS - 3
M1 - e12345
ER -