Townsville General Practice Network

GPs are increasingly selective in their use of Antibiotics.

The latest analysis of antibiotic prescribing from the National Prescribing Service (NPS) shows a decline in antibiotic prescriptions dispensed in the last five years to 2003. This trend is clear in national data and the Townsville region (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Nine antibiotics commonly used for URTI (original prescriptions) — mean rate per 1,000 consultations National and Townsville Division of General Practice (Amoxycillin, amoxycillin with clavulanic acid, cefaclor, cefuroxime, clarithromycin, doxycycline (100mg only), erythromycin, phenoxymethyl penicillin, roxithromycin)

The optimal level of antibiotic use is difficult to establish, and of course will vary according to demographics and the infection being treated, amongst many other criteria. However, in Townsville Division, analysis shows there has been a decrease in the rate of antibiotic prescribing for commonly used antibiotics, which is in line with the evidence-based treatment of URTIs and the NPS objectives (below).

Figures 2 and 3 show the trends in the use of commonly used antibiotics, nationally and in Townsville Division.

In Townsville Division (and nationally), the use of amoxycillin has increased and the use of cefaclor has decreased — both of these are positive outcomes and show increasingly judicious use of these antibiotics.

However, both nationally and Divisionally, the use of roxithromycin has remained at the same level as 1998 with same minor fluctuations over the years. This would indicate that there is still some room for improvement in the use of roxithromycin — a decrease in this prescribing rate would be desirable.

Figures 2 & 3. Trends in usage of antibiotics — Amoxycillin, cefaclor and roxithromycin as mean proportion of 9 antibiotics commonly used for URTI.

NOTE: Data is sourced from the HIC database (PBS prescribing and MBS consultation data) by NPS. It is recognized that there are limitations to the data but NPS are confident that it is indicative of prescribing trends and shows positive results. Approximately 56% of antibiotic prescriptions dispensed are captured in the HIC database and the date has not been age-sex standardized. GP data on the HIC database is de-identified and individual prescribers cannot be identified. There are no patient identifiers nor are there any links to the diagnosis/indication for which the medication was prescribed. Consideration of the extent of use of antibiotics for use in URTI (using BEACH data) resulted in identifying a group of 9 antibiotics where most of the volume of use was specifically to treat URTI.

Source: NPS Report to Townsville Division of General Practice Ltd 07/07/2005. Antibiotics — Comparison of Prescribing data.

Figure 4. Amoxycillin (original prescriptions) — mean rate per 1,000 consultations National And Townsville Division of General Practice

Figure 5. Cefaclor (original prescriptions) — mean rate per 1,000 consultations National And Townsville Division of General Practice

Figure 6. Roxithromycin (original prescriptions) — mean rate per 1,000 consultations National And Townsville Division of General Practice

Robin Warren
QUM Facilitator

Michael Edwards
Data Management Program Support Officer

Page last modified: 17 Oct 2007

 
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