Within-episode repeat antibiotic prescriptions in patients with respiratory tract infections: a population-based cohort study

A study involving 530 English general practices found that within-episode repeat antibiotic prescriptions are a significant proportion of all antibiotics prescribed for respiratory tract infections (RTIs). The majority of repeat prescriptions occurred within 10 days after the initial prescription, and were the same antibiotic class in 48.3% of cases. Frequent RTI-related GP visits and prior within-RTI-episode repeat prescriptions were main factors associated with repeat prescriptions. Younger and older adults were associated with repeat prescriptions, while those aged 2-64 years were associated with allergic rhinitis, COPD, and oral corticosteroids.