title: Improving the appropriateness of antimicrobial use in primary care after implementation of a local antimicrobial guide in both levels of care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to assess the effectiveness of multiple interventions carried out during the implementation of a guide, on the improvement of the appropriateness of antimicrobial prescribing in primary care.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional before/after study carried out in Aljarafe Health Care Area (Andalusia, Spain), with a population of 368,728 inhabitants assisted in 37 health centers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects include patients with antibiotic prescriptions during 2009 (pre-intervention phase) or 2012 (postintervention phase) selected by simple random sampling (confidence level, 95%; accuracy, 5%), with infections registered in the electronic clinical history.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study involve training sessions in primary care centers and hospital services, incorporation of the electronic guide to the Health Care Service Websites, and incorporation of the guide to the Digital Health History as a tool to support decision making.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Difference on appropriate antibiotic prescribing before and after interventions resulted from the study. Other variables also include age, gender, type of pharmacy, antibiotic prescribed, number of treatments per year, infection site, and main comorbidities
  
  
  METHODS
  In addition, this study uses computerized pharmacy records of reimbursed and dispensed drugs and electronic medical histories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of appropriate antibiotic prescribing increased from 36% in 2009 to 57% in 2012 (p < 0.001) is shown. The improvement was observed in all age patients of any sex and was higher among working-age patients and patients with comorbidities. The best results were observed in the group of beta-lactams and in the treatment of respiratory and skin infections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The realization of multifactorial interventions involving professionals from both levels of care could be an effective strategy to improve the use of antimicrobials in primary care.
authors.affiliation: Service of Pharmacy, Aljarafe-Sevilla Norte Primary Health Care Area, Avda de las Americas s/n. 41927-Mairena del Aljarafe, Seville, Spain, rocio.fernandez.sspa@juntadeandalucia.es.
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fernández Urrusuno
authors.forename: Macarena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Flores Dorado
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vilches Arenas
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Serrano Martino
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Corral Baena
authors.forename: Ma Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Montero Balosa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004517:Education, Professional; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011320:Primary Health Care; D013030:Spain; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents