Effect of c reactive protein point-of-care testing and family physician education on antibiotic prescribing for children with acute respiratory illnesses in primary care in Latvia

Zane Likopa; Anda Kivite-Urtane; Jana Pavare

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM
Although acute respiratory illnesses are mostly viral infections, antibiotics are
frequently prescribed by family physicians (FP). The aim of this study is to
explore whether the interventions as C reactive protein (CRP) point-of-care
tests (POCT) and FP education reduce antibiotic prescribing for children with
respiratory infections.

METHODS
Single-arm pre-post intervention study was conducted in Latvia between
November 2019 and May 2021. 40 FP from urban and rural practices recorded
data on children aged 1 month up to 17 years consulted with acute respiratory
infections. After 3 months period FP received CRP POCT and educational
course. Antibiotic prescribing rates for upper and lower respiratory infections
were compared before and after the interventions.

RESULTS
Overall, 1442 patients were included (n=855 in pre-intervention group; n=587
in post-intervention group, the median age 4.0 years for both groups), from
whom the majority were with upper respiratory infections - 78.9% (n=675)
in pre-intervention group and 77.3% (n=454) in post-intervention group. For
32.5% (n=278) of patients in pre-intervention group and 32.4% (n=190) patients
in post-intervention group antibiotics were prescribed both in urban and rural
practices, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.95). Meanwhile,
interventions significantly reduced antibiotic prescribing for lower respiratory
infections in rural practices - 71.6% (n=48) in pre-intervention group versus
37.8% (n=17) in post-intervention group (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS
Although results demonstrated that availability of POCT in combination with
the educational activity did not reduce the overall antibiotic prescribing for
children with acute respiratory infections, these interventions should be considered in rural practices and for children with lower respiratory infections.

Original language	English
Pages	3427-3428
Publication status	Published - Oct 2022
Event	9th Congress of the European Academy of Paediatric Societies - Barcelona, Spain Duration: 7 Oct 2022 → 11 Oct 2022 Conference number: 9 https://eaps2022.kenes.com

Congress

Congress	9th Congress of the European Academy of Paediatric Societies
Abbreviated title	EAPS 2022
Country/Territory	Spain
City	Barcelona
Period	7/10/22 → 11/10/22
Internet address	https://eaps2022.kenes.com

Keywords*

CRP
antibiotic prescription
Point-of-Care Testing
Children
acute respiratory illness

Field of Science*

3.2 Clinical medicine

Publication Type*

3.4. Other publications in conference proceedings (including local)

Cite this

@conference{813a2f92db164e2eae75f64b1cafbe02,

title = "Effect of c reactive protein point-of-care testing and family physician education on antibiotic prescribing for children with acute respiratory illnesses in primary care in Latvia",

abstract = "BACKGROUND AND AIMAlthough acute respiratory illnesses are mostly viral infections, antibiotics are frequently prescribed by family physicians (FP). The aim of this study is to explore whether the interventions as C reactive protein (CRP) point-of-care tests (POCT) and FP education reduce antibiotic prescribing for children with respiratory infections.METHODSSingle-arm pre-post intervention study was conducted in Latvia between November 2019 and May 2021. 40 FP from urban and rural practices recorded data on children aged 1 month up to 17 years consulted with acute respiratory infections. After 3 months period FP received CRP POCT and educational course. Antibiotic prescribing rates for upper and lower respiratory infections were compared before and after the interventions.RESULTSOverall, 1442 patients were included (n=855 in pre-intervention group; n=587 in post-intervention group, the median age 4.0 years for both groups), from whom the majority were with upper respiratory infections - 78.9% (n=675) in pre-intervention group and 77.3% (n=454) in post-intervention group. For 32.5% (n=278) of patients in pre-intervention group and 32.4% (n=190) patients in post-intervention group antibiotics were prescribed both in urban and rural practices, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.95). Meanwhile, interventions significantly reduced antibiotic prescribing for lower respiratory infections in rural practices - 71.6% (n=48) in pre-intervention group versus 37.8% (n=17) in post-intervention group (p<0.001).CONCLUSIONSAlthough results demonstrated that availability of POCT in combination with the educational activity did not reduce the overall antibiotic prescribing for children with acute respiratory infections, these interventions should be considered in rural practices and for children with lower respiratory infections.",

keywords = "CRP, antibiotic prescription, Point-of-Care Testing, Children, acute respiratory illness",

author = "Zane Likopa and Anda Kivite-Urtane and Jana Pavare",

year = "2022",

month = oct,

language = "English",

pages = "3427--3428",

note = "9th Congress of the European Academy of Paediatric Societies, EAPS 2022 ; Conference date: 07-10-2022 Through 11-10-2022",

url = "https://eaps2022.kenes.com",

}

Effect of c reactive protein point-of-care testing and family physician education on antibiotic prescribing for children with acute respiratory illnesses in primary care in Latvia. / Likopa, Zane (Corresponding Author); Kivite-Urtane, Anda ; Pavare, Jana.
2022. 3427-3428 Abstract from 9th Congress of the European Academy of Paediatric Societies, Barcelona, Spain.

Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract

TY - CONF

T1 - Effect of c reactive protein point-of-care testing and family physician education on antibiotic prescribing for children with acute respiratory illnesses in primary care in Latvia

AU - Likopa, Zane

AU - Kivite-Urtane, Anda

AU - Pavare, Jana

N1 - Conference code: 9

PY - 2022/10

Y1 - 2022/10

N2 - BACKGROUND AND AIMAlthough acute respiratory illnesses are mostly viral infections, antibiotics are frequently prescribed by family physicians (FP). The aim of this study is to explore whether the interventions as C reactive protein (CRP) point-of-care tests (POCT) and FP education reduce antibiotic prescribing for children with respiratory infections.METHODSSingle-arm pre-post intervention study was conducted in Latvia between November 2019 and May 2021. 40 FP from urban and rural practices recorded data on children aged 1 month up to 17 years consulted with acute respiratory infections. After 3 months period FP received CRP POCT and educational course. Antibiotic prescribing rates for upper and lower respiratory infections were compared before and after the interventions.RESULTSOverall, 1442 patients were included (n=855 in pre-intervention group; n=587 in post-intervention group, the median age 4.0 years for both groups), from whom the majority were with upper respiratory infections - 78.9% (n=675) in pre-intervention group and 77.3% (n=454) in post-intervention group. For 32.5% (n=278) of patients in pre-intervention group and 32.4% (n=190) patients in post-intervention group antibiotics were prescribed both in urban and rural practices, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.95). Meanwhile, interventions significantly reduced antibiotic prescribing for lower respiratory infections in rural practices - 71.6% (n=48) in pre-intervention group versus 37.8% (n=17) in post-intervention group (p<0.001).CONCLUSIONSAlthough results demonstrated that availability of POCT in combination with the educational activity did not reduce the overall antibiotic prescribing for children with acute respiratory infections, these interventions should be considered in rural practices and for children with lower respiratory infections.

AB - BACKGROUND AND AIMAlthough acute respiratory illnesses are mostly viral infections, antibiotics are frequently prescribed by family physicians (FP). The aim of this study is to explore whether the interventions as C reactive protein (CRP) point-of-care tests (POCT) and FP education reduce antibiotic prescribing for children with respiratory infections.METHODSSingle-arm pre-post intervention study was conducted in Latvia between November 2019 and May 2021. 40 FP from urban and rural practices recorded data on children aged 1 month up to 17 years consulted with acute respiratory infections. After 3 months period FP received CRP POCT and educational course. Antibiotic prescribing rates for upper and lower respiratory infections were compared before and after the interventions.RESULTSOverall, 1442 patients were included (n=855 in pre-intervention group; n=587 in post-intervention group, the median age 4.0 years for both groups), from whom the majority were with upper respiratory infections - 78.9% (n=675) in pre-intervention group and 77.3% (n=454) in post-intervention group. For 32.5% (n=278) of patients in pre-intervention group and 32.4% (n=190) patients in post-intervention group antibiotics were prescribed both in urban and rural practices, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.95). Meanwhile, interventions significantly reduced antibiotic prescribing for lower respiratory infections in rural practices - 71.6% (n=48) in pre-intervention group versus 37.8% (n=17) in post-intervention group (p<0.001).CONCLUSIONSAlthough results demonstrated that availability of POCT in combination with the educational activity did not reduce the overall antibiotic prescribing for children with acute respiratory infections, these interventions should be considered in rural practices and for children with lower respiratory infections.

KW - CRP

KW - antibiotic prescription

KW - Point-of-Care Testing

KW - Children

KW - acute respiratory illness

UR - https://eaps2022.kenes.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/135/2023/03/9782889710249-1.pdf

M3 - Abstract

SP - 3427

EP - 3428

T2 - 9th Congress of the European Academy of Paediatric Societies

Y2 - 7 October 2022 through 11 October 2022

ER -