Reduction in Outpatient Antibiotic Sales for Pre-school Children: Interrupted Time Series Analysis of Weekly Antibiotic Sales Data in Sweden 1992-2002

The Question

How have outpatient antibiotic sales for pre-school children in Sweden changed between 1992 and 2002?

What we found

The number of antibiotics sold annually decreased from 1992 to 2002, while sales of over-the-counter paracetamol increased between 1993 and 2002. This could mean that families in Sweden are relying less on prescription antibiotics to treat their children and more on milder, over-the-counter medications.

Why it matters

Since antibiotic resistance arises after use and misuse of antibiotics, understanding the trends in antibiotic sales can help researchers predict trends in resistance. Prior to this study, use of antibiotics in Sweden was considered to be low, and the decrease in usage seen in the study has good implications for trends in antibiotic resistance.