title: Respiratory tract infections: diagnosis and use of antibiotics by family physicians in north-eastern Poland.
abstract: The aim of our study was to describe the pattern of antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections. Forty-four family physicians from Białystok (north-eastern Poland) filled in questionnaires regarding 1315 patients with respiratory tract infections. Antibiotics were prescribed in 803 cases (61.1%). The four principle diagnoses associated with prescribing an antibiotic were: bacterial pharyngitis/tonsillitis, acute bronchitis, unspecified bacterial superinfection and acute sinusitis for which a total of 572 antibiotic treatments were given (71.2% of all antibiotic prescriptions). The study shows that Polish family physicians diagnose respiratory tract infections empirically and frequently prescribe wide-spectrum antibiotics. More information is required about the diagnostic value of certain clinical symptoms such as purulent sputum, duration of cough and indications for broad-spectrum antibiotic use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Community Nursing, Medical University of Białystok, Mieszka I 4b, 15-054 Białystok, Poland. schlabicz@poczta.onet.pl
authors.forename: Sławomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chlabicz
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Małgorzata-Ołtarzewska
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pytel-Krolczuk
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D011044:Poland; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents