General practitioner prescribing of antibiotics for asthma.

Abstract

Although asthma management guidelines in New Zealand do not advise prescribing antibiotics, almost a quarter of asthma consultations result in a prescription for antibiotics. This study, as part of a repeat audit of asthma care at an after-hours medical centre, describes general practitioners' perspectives on prescribing antibiotics to patients presenting with asthma. The results show that GPs have tended to overestimate the risk of bacterial infection in such patients.