Wie können ökonomische Chancen der Antibiotikaresistenzen realisiert werden?- Eine Analyse am Beispiel von akuten Atemwegsinfekten im ambulanten Bereich

The growing resistance of bacterial pathogens to chemical antibiotics worldwide dictates to reduce the use of antibiotic medicines. This goes specifically for the excessive numbers of frequently unjustified prescriptions in outpatient care in cases of acute respiratory tract infections. Tue need to reduce the use of such medicines may harbour not just in view of the side effects and follow-up consequences of chemical antibiotics and not least because respiratory tract infections frequently have viral causes and are self-limiting pertinent economic opportunities. With a view to find an approach for exploiting such economic opportunities, a survey has been conducted among 100 patients to verify how the patients deal with respiratory tract infections contracted in outpatient care. In a heavily frequented practitioner's office, it has been verified whether for patients with symptoms of a respiratory tract infection contracted in outpatient care, antibiotics are indicated, how soon the patients seek out a practitioner's office once the symptoms occur and what is their stance on non-antibiotic measures. According to the results, there is a need for comprehensive medical consultancy and ahigh need for information. Both are key with a view to the viral causes of the frequently self-limiting respiratory tract infections and pertinent use of non-antibiotic measures to alleviate the symptoms that do not have tonecessarily include a practitioner's visit. There has been a growing role in medical consultancy of the media. There are economic opportunities to be potentially exploited providing the insights gained from this study are used on a more comprehensive and consistent basis tomodify patient behaviour.