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Use of Microbiological Diagnostics and Antibiotics in Danish General Practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2009

Henrik Toft Sørensen
Affiliation:
University of Aarhus
Flemming Hald Steffensen
Affiliation:
Aarhus University Hospital
Henrik C. Schønheyder
Affiliation:
Aalborg Hospital
Poul Grøn
Affiliation:
Department of Health Planning and Management, County of Viborg
Svend Sabroe
Affiliation:
University of Aarhus

Abstract

This article analyzes the use of antibiotics in Danish general practice. We observed considerable variation in the prescription of antibiotics among general practitioners (GPs). Internationally, Denmark has a low consumption of antibiotics. The use of antibiotics was closely associated with GPs' use of drugs, other than antibiotics, and to some extent with use of microbiological diagnostic tests. These findings provide evidence for the assumption that the consumption of antibiotics can be decreased further, which stresses the need for a restrictive policy concerning antibiotics.

Type
Research Notes
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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