Abstract
Respiratory infections are the most common cause of antibiotic prescription in outpatient practice. Their indication is not always easy in the conditions of a doctor under the pressure of limited time possibilities.
It cannot evaluate the development of the patient's condition by continuous monitoring, the indication of treatment is usually based on the clinical picture without a pathogen's culture or examination of inflammatory parameters. A survey of prescriptions in the Czech Republic showed (Jindrák et al.) That almost two thirds of antibiotics are indicated for infections of viral origin.
The sharp rise in their consumption in recent years, including the reckless prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics, carries a direct risk of an increase in pathogen resistance in the community. The aim of antibiotic policy is to indicate antibiotic treatment more judiciously on the basis of the latest knowledge - including knowledge of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic criteria.
With knowledge of common pathogens, indications for culture examination and, in unclear cases, the availability of rapid diagnosis of inflammatory parameters in the office (CRP), we strive to reduce the amount of antibiotics used and return to simpler products in a narrower spectrum. They burden the patient less, among other things they are less toxic, they have less effect on the microflora of the digestive tract.
Long-term studies in our conditions have shown that the implementation of the principles of antibiotic policy of rational prescription can reduce and significantly suppress the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance while saving 30-50% of antibiotic costs. How can these principles be applied in practice? On average, an adult experiences two to three respiratory infections per year, usually more in childhood.
The etiology of most of these common infections is viral, with some mixed.