pneumonia were for amoxicillin as by guidelines; all of these results were below the acceptable range (see Table 12). Table 11: Patterns of use, indications for prescribing, repeat prescribing, and differences between PBS/RPBS and private prescriptions for amoxicillin, 2014 Antibacterial Patients Most common Patient cohort Repeats prescribed Differences (PBS/RPBS issued a indications (%) between benefit) prescription PBS/RPBS and (%)a private prescriptions Amoxicillin 12.4 URTIs (30%) Highest use in 27% of Negligible (general children, and prescriptions private use Otitis media benefit) patients with ordered with (15%) COPD or one or more asthma repeats Moderate infections variation (minority of between cases) practices in repeats for URTI COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; PBS/RPBS = Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme/Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme; URTI = upper respiratory tract infection a Percentage of patients who visited a GP at least once, or had one or more prescriptions in 2014 that were for the specified antimicrobial. Source: NPS MedicineWise MedicineInsight Table 12: Percentage of patients prescribed amoxicillin for select conditions, 2014 Condition Patient Number Percentage 95% Acceptable CI (%) Sinusitis than 18 years 17 300 86 84–87 0–20 (chronic or prescribed acute) antibacterials And prescribed the 5 607 32 29–36 80–100 TG-recommended amoxicillin Acute otitis Older than 2 years 11 387 91 90–92 0–20 media/myringitis prescribed antibacterials And prescribed the 7 154 63 59–67 80–100 TG-recommended amoxicillin Pneumonia Aged 18–65 years 607 68 64–71 90–100 prescribed antibacterials And prescribed the 146 24 19–29 80–100 TG-recommended (for mild CAP amoxicillin – or doxycycline) CAP = community-acquired pneumonia; CI = confidence interval; TG = Therapeutic Guidelines: antibiotic; URTI = upper respiratory tract infection Source: NPS MedicineWise MedicineInsight
pneumonia were for amoxicillin as by guidelines; all of these results were below the acceptable range (see Table 12). Table 11: Patterns of use, indications for prescribing, repeat prescribing, and differences between PBS/RPBS and private prescriptions for amoxicillin, 2014 Antibacterial (PBS/RPBS benefit) Patients issued a prescription (%)a Most common indications (%) Patient cohort Repeats prescribed Differences between PBS/RPBS and private prescriptions Amoxicillin (general benefit) 12.4 URTIs (30%) Otitis media (15%) infections (minority of cases) Highest use in children, and patients with COPD or asthma 27% of prescriptions ordered with one or more repeats Moderate variation between practices in repeats for URTI Negligible private use COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; PBS/RPBS = Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme/Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme; URTI = upper respiratory tract infection a Percentage of patients who visited a GP at least once, or had one or more prescriptions in 2014 that were for the specified antimicrobial. Source: NPS MedicineWise MedicineInsight Table 12: Percentage of patients prescribed amoxicillin for select conditions, 2014 Condition Patient Number Percentage 95% CI Acceptable (%) Sinusitis (chronic or acute) than 18 years prescribed antibacterials 17 300 86 84–87 0–20 And prescribed the TG-recommended amoxicillin 5 607 32 29–36 80–100 Acute otitis media/myringitis Older than 2 years prescribed antibacterials 11 387 91 90–92 0–20 And prescribed the TG-recommended amoxicillin 7 154 63 59–67 80–100 Pneumonia Aged 18–65 years prescribed antibacterials 607 68 64–71 90–100 And prescribed the TG-recommended (for mild CAP – amoxicillin or doxycycline) 146 24 19–29 80–100 CAP = community-acquired pneumonia; CI = confidence interval; TG = Therapeutic Guidelines: antibiotic; URTI = upper respiratory tract infection Source: NPS MedicineWise MedicineInsight
Antibacterial-Use-in-Australia.docx