General practice antibiotic prescriptions attributable to respiratory syncytial virus by age and antibiotic class: an ecological analysis of the English population

The study aimed to estimate the proportion of antibiotic prescriptions in English general practice attributable to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) by age and antibiotic class. Results showed that 2.1% of antibiotics were attributable to RSV, equating to an average of 640,000 prescriptions annually. Adults aged 75+ contributed the greatest volume, with an annual average of 149,078 prescriptions. Most RSV-attributable antibiotic prescriptions were penicillins, macrolides, or tetracyclines. Interventions to reduce RSV burden could complement current strategies to reduce antibiotic use in England.