How are antibiotics currently prescribed in Switzerland?

For example, even though they may not be indicated by the clinical evidence:

• fluoroquinolones are prescribed in more than 19 percent of lower urinary tract infections
• in acute bronchitis (44 percent of prescriptions for lower respiratory tract infections), antibiotics are still prescribed too often
  
  

Number of prescriptions for different classes of antibiotic per 100'000 inhabitants issued by GPs for the main infections, 2021. Source: ANRESIS/FOPH, Sentinella reporting system

In paediatrics too, there is still potential for improvement when it comes to selecting antibiotics:

• Around 70 percent of antibiotic prescriptions for children are for upper respiratory tract infections. The recommended (simple) penicillins or aminopenicillins are not always used in these cases.
• Macrolides, which have a problematic profile as regards selection of resistance, are probably used too often for treating respiratory tract infections.
   

Number of prescriptions for different classes of antibiotic per 100'000 inhabitants issued by paediatricians for the main infections, 2021. Source: ANRESIS/FOPH, Sentinella reporting system

Documents

Information sheet for GPs: Prescription of antibiotics (PDF, 1023 kB, 18.10.2023)

Information sheet for paediatricians: Prescription of antibiotics (PDF, 938 kB, 18.10.2023)

Fact sheet antibiotic resistance (PDF, 464 kB, 18.10.2023)

FAQs antibiotic resistance (PDF, 100 kB, 03.10.2023)

Swiss Antibiotic Resistance Report 2022 (PDF, 10 MB, 03.11.2022)

Further information

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Last modification 06.12.2023