[Etiology and treatment of choice of respiratory infections in primary care. Opinion of the physicians of the URANO Group].
OBJECTIVE
To find the opinion of primary care doctors on the aetiology of respiratory infections and their treatment of choice.


METHODS
Crossover study, through interview with structured questionnaire.


METHODS
Primary care.


METHODS
400 PC doctors distributed by area in direct proportion to the number of doctors in each area.


RESULTS
Most doctors thought that S. pyogenes was the main cause of pharyngitis and tonsillitis; and H. influenzae or S. pneumoniae, of otitis media, sinusitis and exacerbation of acute bronchitis. 78% thought that pneumococci were the main causal agent of pneumonia. 20.5% and 19.8% thought that viruses were the main cause of pharyngitis and acute bronchitis. The treatment of choice depended on the clinical profile and what was thought the most likely cause. For pharyngitis, tonsillitis and acute bronchitis, first choice was aminopenicillins and second was amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. For otitis media, sinusitis and exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, cephalosporins were first choice, followed by amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. For pneumonia, it was aminopenicillins or penicillin, followed by macrolides.


CONCLUSIONS
Spanish primary care doctors underestimate the viral aetiology of pharyngo-tonsillitis and acute bronchitis, which may lead to frequent and unnecessary use of antibiotics in these clinical cases. The cause of other infections is well-known, although there are some discrepancies as to the treatment of choice with what is recommended in several medical hand-books.
Ripoll
M A
MA
Centros de Salud Avila Rural, Paseo Extremadura de Madrid y Hospital Clínico de Madrid.
Orero
A
A
Prieto
J
J
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents