Observational study of antibiotic prescribing patterns by age and sex in primary care in England: why we need to take this variation into account to evaluate antibiotic stewardship and predict AMR variation 

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) drivers vary significantly by demographics, but there is limited data on antibiotic use by age and sex. A study analyzed prescriptions of all antibiotics in England for 2015-23, focusing on age and sex. Results showed that 63% of prescriptions were given to women, with amoxicillin, nitrofurantoin, and flucloxacillin sodium being the most prescribed drugs. Prescriptions varied across sex, age, geographical region, season, year, COVID-19 pandemic period, and drug. The study also highlighted the impact of time-sensitive interruptions, such as differential age-targeted influenza vaccination, COVID-19 restrictions, and amoxicillin shortages. Linking this data with open-access AMR data is needed for better intervention design.