TY - JOUR T1 - Comparing antibiotic prescriptions in primary care between SARS-CoV-2 and influenza: a retrospective observational study JF - BJGP Open JO - BJGP Open DO - 10.3399/BJGPO.2022.0049 SP - BJGPO.2022.0049 AU - Martijn Sijbom AU - Frederike Büchner AU - Nicholas Saadah AU - Mark de Boer AU - Mattijs E Numans Y1 - 2022/10/06 UR - http://bjgpopen.org/content/early/2022/10/04/BJGPO.2022.0049.abstract N2 - Background Antibiotics are frequently prescribed during viral respiratory infection episodes in primary care. There is limited information about antibiotic prescription during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in primary care and its association with risk-factors for an adverse course.Aim To compare the proportion of antibiotic prescriptions between patients with COVID-19 and influenza or influenza-like-symptoms, and to assess the association between antibiotic prescriptions and risk-factors for an adverse course of COVID-19.DesignAn observational cohort study using pseudonymised and coded routine healthcare data extracted from 85 primary care practices in the Netherlands.Method Adult patients with influenza, influenza-like-symptoms, and suspected or confirmed COVID-19 during the period 2017 up until 2020 were included. We calculated proportions of antibiotic prescriptions for influenza and COVID-19 patients and odds ratios (ORs) comparing the associations of antibiotic prescriptions in COVID-19 patients with risk factors, hospital admission, intensive care (IC) admission, and mortality.Results The proportion of antibiotic prescriptions during the first SARS-CoV-2 wave was lower than during the 2020 influenza season (9.6% vs 20.7%), difference 11.1% (95%CI:8.7–13.5). During the second SARS-CoV-2 wave, antibiotic prescriptions were associated with being older than 70 (OR 2.05 95% CI:1.43–2.93), the number of comorbidities (OR 1.46 95% CI:1.43–2.93) and admission to hospital (OR 3.19 95% CI:2.02–5.03) or IC (OR 4.64 95% CI:2.02–10.62).Conclusion Antibiotic prescription was less common during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic than during influenza seasons and associated with an adverse course and its risk factors. Our findings suggest a relatively targeted prescription policy of antibiotics in primary care during COVID. ER -