Abstract
Respiratory infections in the outpatient practice are the most common indication of antibiotics and make up up to two thirds of the total antibiotic prescription. Antimicrobial treatment in primary care is usually indicated on the basis of the clinical picture and only rarely on the basis of culture results.
However, most respiratory infections are caused by viruses that are not affected by antibiotics, and their administration can harm the patient. Improving the quality of antibiotic use and reducing the consumption of antibiotics by reducing their prescription is necessary where etiology is considered impractical.
A prudent approach to prescription can reduce the growing trends in antibiotic resistance in bacteria in the community, while maintaining the effectiveness of older and new drugs. Infectious respiratory diseases are a worldwide problem.
Although upper respiratory tract infections are rarely fatal, they are a source of extreme illness, with two to three respiratory disorders occurring in an adult each year. The incidence is even higher in childhood, respiratory tract infections are the primary cause of the disease, and outpatient care is the most common reason for antibiotic prescription.
Lower respiratory tract infections in adults are the most common cause of death from infectious diseases. The vast majority of respiratory diseases are of viral etiology, when antibiotic treatment is inappropriate.
In 1993, the consumption of antibiotics in the Czech Republic rose sharply, although the incidence of respiratory infections in the community did not change. However, the increase in consumption was monitored by the escalation of antibiotic resistance.
The relationship between the magnitude of antibiotic consumption and their selection pressure and the increase in resistance has been demonstrated. Some countries are already deliberately reducing antibiotic consumption by limiting prescriptions where it is considered etiologically ineffective.