Demand for prophylaxis after bioterrorism-related anthrax cases, 2001.
Media reports suggested increased public demand for anthrax prophylaxis after the intentional anthrax cases in 2001, but the magnitude of anthrax-related prescribing in unaffected regions was not assessed. We surveyed a random sample of 400 primary care clinicians in Minnesota and Wisconsin to assess requests for and provision of anthrax-related antimicrobial agents. The survey was returned by 239 (60%) of clinicians, including 210 in outpatient practice. Fifty-eight (28%) of those in outpatient practice received requests for anthrax-related antimicrobial agents, and 9 (4%) dispensed them. Outpatient fluoroquinolone use in both states was also analyzed with regression models to compare predicted and actual use in October and November 2001. Fluoroquinolone use as a proportion of total antimicrobial use was not elevated, and anthrax concerns accounted for an estimated 0.3% of all fluoroquinolone prescriptions. Most physicians in Minnesota and Wisconsin managed anthrax-related requests without dispensing antimicrobial agents.
Belongia
Edward A
EA
Epidemiology Research Center (ML2), Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, 1000 North Oak Avenue, Marshfield, WI 54449, USA. belongia.edward@mcrf.mfldclin.edu
Kieke
Burney
B
Lynfield
Ruth
R
Davis
Jeffrey P
JP
Besser
Richard E
RE
D000881:Anthrax / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001408:Bacillus anthracis; D023482:Bioterrorism; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D008910:Minnesota; D010045:Outpatients; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care; D014922:Wisconsin
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones