Trends of antibiotic use for acute upper respiratory infections in Chinese emergency departments and the impact of COVID-19: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background The emergence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has impacted antibiotic use; however, studies on antibiotic use for acute upper respiratory infections (AURIs) in Chinese emergency department (ED) settings are still scarce. Objective This study aimed to explore trends and pat...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-025-01567-w |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850154880817168384 |
|---|---|
| author | Tingxi Wu Tongxu Li Heng Guo Bin Zhu Yang Zhang Zhigang Zhao |
| author_facet | Tingxi Wu Tongxu Li Heng Guo Bin Zhu Yang Zhang Zhigang Zhao |
| author_sort | Tingxi Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The emergence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has impacted antibiotic use; however, studies on antibiotic use for acute upper respiratory infections (AURIs) in Chinese emergency department (ED) settings are still scarce. Objective This study aimed to explore trends and patterns in antibiotic use and the impact of COVID-19 in Chinese ED settings. Methods A cross-sectional, retrospective analysis was conducted using prescriptions for ED visits due to AURIs through the Hospital Prescription Analysis Cooperative Project Database between 2018 and 2023. We examined patterns of antibiotic use for AURIs and employed an interrupted time series analysis to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antibiotic use. The proportion of antibiotic prescriptions adhering to first-line guideline recommendations was also evaluated. Results A total of 1,972,270 prescriptions for AURIs from 108 hospitals in EDs were extracted. The antibiotic prescription rate (APR) was 58.44%. The predominant antibiotics prescribed for AURIs were second- and third-generation cephalosporins and azithromycin. Among these prescriptions, only 22.26% adhered to first-line guideline recommendations, while 83.82% involved Watch-group antibiotics. A substantial decrease in antibiotic consumption was observed at the onset of the pandemic, but no significant changes were found in the APR. After the relaxation of anti-COVID-19 measures, both antibiotic consumption and the APR exhibited an upward trend. However, neither returned to pre-pandemic levels. Conclusion Antibiotic use for AURIs was prevalent in ED settings, with a predominant use of broad-spectrum and Watch-group antibiotics. After the lifting of pandemic control measures, both antibiotic consumption and the APR exhibited an upward trend, underscoring the need to reinforce antimicrobial stewardship, particular targeting broad-spectrum and Watch-group antibiotic use. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d7ec6eee4e9947fb8ef47cf2b50f282a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2047-2994 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control |
| spelling | doaj-art-d7ec6eee4e9947fb8ef47cf2b50f282a2025-08-20T02:25:08ZengBMCAntimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control2047-29942025-05-0114111110.1186/s13756-025-01567-wTrends of antibiotic use for acute upper respiratory infections in Chinese emergency departments and the impact of COVID-19: a cross-sectional studyTingxi Wu0Tongxu Li1Heng Guo2Bin Zhu3Yang Zhang4Zhigang Zhao5Department of Pharmacy, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical UniversitySchool of Statistics, Renmin University of ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of Pharmacy, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of Pharmacy, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of Pharmacy, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityAbstract Background The emergence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has impacted antibiotic use; however, studies on antibiotic use for acute upper respiratory infections (AURIs) in Chinese emergency department (ED) settings are still scarce. Objective This study aimed to explore trends and patterns in antibiotic use and the impact of COVID-19 in Chinese ED settings. Methods A cross-sectional, retrospective analysis was conducted using prescriptions for ED visits due to AURIs through the Hospital Prescription Analysis Cooperative Project Database between 2018 and 2023. We examined patterns of antibiotic use for AURIs and employed an interrupted time series analysis to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antibiotic use. The proportion of antibiotic prescriptions adhering to first-line guideline recommendations was also evaluated. Results A total of 1,972,270 prescriptions for AURIs from 108 hospitals in EDs were extracted. The antibiotic prescription rate (APR) was 58.44%. The predominant antibiotics prescribed for AURIs were second- and third-generation cephalosporins and azithromycin. Among these prescriptions, only 22.26% adhered to first-line guideline recommendations, while 83.82% involved Watch-group antibiotics. A substantial decrease in antibiotic consumption was observed at the onset of the pandemic, but no significant changes were found in the APR. After the relaxation of anti-COVID-19 measures, both antibiotic consumption and the APR exhibited an upward trend. However, neither returned to pre-pandemic levels. Conclusion Antibiotic use for AURIs was prevalent in ED settings, with a predominant use of broad-spectrum and Watch-group antibiotics. After the lifting of pandemic control measures, both antibiotic consumption and the APR exhibited an upward trend, underscoring the need to reinforce antimicrobial stewardship, particular targeting broad-spectrum and Watch-group antibiotic use.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-025-01567-wAntibioticsAcute upper respiratory infectionsEmergency departmentCOVID-19Interrupted time series |
| spellingShingle | Tingxi Wu Tongxu Li Heng Guo Bin Zhu Yang Zhang Zhigang Zhao Trends of antibiotic use for acute upper respiratory infections in Chinese emergency departments and the impact of COVID-19: a cross-sectional study Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control Antibiotics Acute upper respiratory infections Emergency department COVID-19 Interrupted time series |
| title | Trends of antibiotic use for acute upper respiratory infections in Chinese emergency departments and the impact of COVID-19: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Trends of antibiotic use for acute upper respiratory infections in Chinese emergency departments and the impact of COVID-19: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Trends of antibiotic use for acute upper respiratory infections in Chinese emergency departments and the impact of COVID-19: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trends of antibiotic use for acute upper respiratory infections in Chinese emergency departments and the impact of COVID-19: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Trends of antibiotic use for acute upper respiratory infections in Chinese emergency departments and the impact of COVID-19: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | trends of antibiotic use for acute upper respiratory infections in chinese emergency departments and the impact of covid 19 a cross sectional study |
| topic | Antibiotics Acute upper respiratory infections Emergency department COVID-19 Interrupted time series |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-025-01567-w |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tingxiwu trendsofantibioticuseforacuteupperrespiratoryinfectionsinchineseemergencydepartmentsandtheimpactofcovid19acrosssectionalstudy AT tongxuli trendsofantibioticuseforacuteupperrespiratoryinfectionsinchineseemergencydepartmentsandtheimpactofcovid19acrosssectionalstudy AT hengguo trendsofantibioticuseforacuteupperrespiratoryinfectionsinchineseemergencydepartmentsandtheimpactofcovid19acrosssectionalstudy AT binzhu trendsofantibioticuseforacuteupperrespiratoryinfectionsinchineseemergencydepartmentsandtheimpactofcovid19acrosssectionalstudy AT yangzhang trendsofantibioticuseforacuteupperrespiratoryinfectionsinchineseemergencydepartmentsandtheimpactofcovid19acrosssectionalstudy AT zhigangzhao trendsofantibioticuseforacuteupperrespiratoryinfectionsinchineseemergencydepartmentsandtheimpactofcovid19acrosssectionalstudy |