RTI uses cookies to offer you the best experience online. By clicking “accept” on this website, you opt in and you agree to the use of cookies. If you would like to know more about how RTI uses cookies and how to manage them please view our Privacy Policy here. You can “opt out” or change your mind by visiting: http://optout.aboutads.info/. Click “accept” to agree.
Pid23: Patterns of antibiotic use and costs associated with episodes of treatment for common outpatient respiratory-tract infections
An analysis of managed-care data
Edelman-Lewis, B., Menzin, J., Boulanger, L., Leung, M., Friedman, M., Hurley, JS., Harnett, J., & Wilson, J. (2001). Pid23: Patterns of antibiotic use and costs associated with episodes of treatment for common outpatient respiratory-tract infections: An analysis of managed-care data. Value in Health, 4(2), 136-137. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1524-4733.2001.40202-181.x
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to understand the prescribing patterns and economic burden of several common respiratory tract infections (RTIs) treated in primary care. METHODS: Using eligibility and claims data from the Lovelace Health Systems of Albuquerque, New Mexico, we selected all outpatients treated with a single antibiotic within 3 days of diagnosis between December 1997 and March 1999 for one of the following 4 RTIs: sinusitis, otitis media (OM), pharyngitis, and bronchitis. The patient's index episode, the focus of this analysis, was defined as the first infection identified following a gap of at least 30 days in antibiotic use. The treatment episode ended when there were no additional antibiotics prescribed or infection-related outpatient medical visits for 21 consecutive days. The costs of antibiotics, visits, and tests were documented over the course of the episode. RESULTS: A total of 30,562 patients (11,798 with sinusitis, 5,636 with otitis media, 7,310 with pharyngitis, and 5,818 with bronchitis) met the study inclusion criteria. For sinusitis, OM, and pharyngitis, penicillins were the most widely prescribed antibiotics, followed by macrolides, sulfonamides, cephalosporins, penicillin/B-lactamase inhibitors, tetracyclines and fluroquinilones. Macrolides were the most commonly used antibiotic for bronchitis (48% of patients). For patients requiring a switch to a different antibiotic, macrolides were the most frequent choice. The overall costs per episode were $97 for pharyngitis, $114 for both OM and sinusitis, and $133 for bronchitis. The proportion of total costs related to follow-up treatment ranged from 19% for pharyngitis to 32% for OM. Antibiotics accounted for 19% (for pharyngitis) to 29% (for sinusitis) of overall costs. CONCLUSIONS: The costs of treatment episodes for RTIs are fairly substantial and vary by condition. While the initial encounter accounts for the majority of the costs, the expenses associated with the need for additional treatment are important to consider.