@article{Al_Balushi_H-2024_177709,
title = {Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the utilisation and quality of antibiotic use in the Scottish primary care setting: a population-based segmented interrupted time series analysis},
author = {Al Balushi, H. and Kurdi, A. and Almutairi, N. and Baker, K. and Amen, K. and Karwi, H. and Seaton, R. and Godman, B.},
month = {jun},
year = {2024},
abstract = {Background Inappropriate use of antibiotics is expected to increase during the COVID-19 pandemic but there is limited data on COVID-19’s long-term impact. We assessed the impact of COVID-19 on the quantity and quality of antibiotic use in Scotland. Research design and methods A segmented interrupted time series was applied to monthly dispensed antibiotics using Prescription Cost analysis data from March/2019 to March/2023. Antibiotics use was quantified using number of items dispensed/1000 inhabitants (TID) and defined daily dose/1000 inhabitants/day (DID). Quality of antibiotic use was assessed using key quality indicators including the WHO AWaRe classification proportion of broad-spectrum and 4C-antibiotics. Results Overall, for all antibiotics, there was a non-significant increase in TID and DID before the first lockdown (March/2020) (β1), but a decline in the level immediately after the first (β2) and second lockdowns (β4) (November/2020), albeit non-significant. However, a significant increase in the time trend after the second lockdown (β5) for all antibiotic classes was observed. COVID-19 had no negative impact on AWaRe utilisation, with proportion of all antibiotics from Access group increasing from 76% in March/2019 to 90% in March/2023. Proportion of 4C antibiotic reduced significantly after the second lockdown. Conclusions Neither the utilisation nor the quality of total antibiotic use appeared to have been significantly affected by COVID-19.},
journal = {Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy},
publisher = {Taylor and Francis},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/14787210.2024.2363485},
}
