The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7216 p384
21 September 2002

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Increase in pneumonia deaths as antibiotic prescribing decreases

The recent drop in antibiotic prescribing has been associated with an increase in pneumonia mortality by British researchers in a study which has revealed that one pneumonia death occurs for every 160 fewer antibiotic prescriptions issued.

Researchers from the department of general practice at the University of Aberdeen monitored antibiotic prescribing rates, pneumonia mortality and influenza rates for seven 12-week winter periods between 1993–94 and 1999–2000. After adjusting for pneumonia associated with influenza, the research team found that, since 1995–96, antibiotic prescribing for lower respiratory tract infections fell by 30 per cent while winter excess pneumonia rates increased by 50.6 per cent. Furthermore, the reduction in prescribing had a small but significant association with mortality (P<0.001).

The researchers say that attempts to limit antibiotic use in the community mean that some cases of pneumonia are now slipping through.

Co-author Dr Mike Thomas said the findings did not prove causality, but he added: "They suggest a real association between the recent reduction in prescribing by GPs for lower respiratory tract infections and the increase in mortality from pneumonia."

The research was presented at the European Respiratory Society annual congress in Stockholm this week.