APRES

Background: Bacterial resistance against antibiotics is a major public health problem in Europe. The appropriate use of antibiotics is needed to ensure the long-term availability of effective treatment of bacterial infections. More than 90% of antibiotics in Europe is being prescribed to non-hospitalized patients but existing information on the antibiotic resistance patterns are exclusively based on samples from hospitalized patients. Guidelines for prescribing antibiotics to community-dwelling patients cannot, therefore, be based on empirical evidence.

Aim: The APRES project aims to provide information and recommendations on the appropriateness of prescribing antibiotics in primary care in Europe. Information is collected on antibiotic resistance patterns of bacteria circulating in the community and antibiotic prescribing patterns retrieved from primary care practices. The appropriateness of prescribing antibiotics will be defined by assessing: antibiotic prescription levels, guidelines for antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance patterns in the community.

Method: In nine European countries data will be collected on the antibiotic resistance patterns of two bacteria circulating in the community: Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
This will be correlated with antibiotic prescribing patterns retrieved from primary care practices. The relationship between the antibiotic resistance pattern for bacteria and the pattern of antibiotic prescription behaviour will give insights in the appropriateness of prescribing.