PRS57 THE ROLE OF APRN IN FORMING AN APPROPIATE ANTIBIOTIC THERAPY

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance is a global problem, caused by causeless and wrong use of antibiotics. The aim of this study is to introduce the role of APRN in treating acute upper respiratory tract infections safely, and in decreasing the number prescriptions of antibiotics, thus the resistance for them. A quantitative study was carried out between 2018.09.01.-11.07. in a general practicioner’s praxis in Táplánszentkereszt, Hungary. Non-probability convenience sampling was used to select adult patients from the praxis with upper respiratory tract problems (cold, sore throat, painful swallowing, fever, cough). Patients receiving immunosupressive therapy, having autoimmun diseases, treated for COPD or cancer were excluded (N=180). Data were collected through questions about symptoms, physical examination (checking the pharynx, neck, cervical lymph nodes, auscultatio examination), and the “DIAQUICK” CRP test. MS Office Excel 2010 was used to calculate descriptive and mathematical statistics (χ2-test; p<0.05). Mean age of patients was 38.32±17.41 years, 100 men (55.56%), 80 women (44.44%) participated. Patients had visited their doctor with 5 symptoms on average (mean=5.51±1.34). Every patient suffered from sore throat (100%). 96.11% had cold, 96.11% had painful swallowing, 68.33% coughed, 32.78% had a headache, 35.56% mentioned muscle pain. 53.89% had subfebrility, 32.78% had fever. Pharyngeal variations showed in 67.22% of patients, there were no submandibular lymph nodes in 53.33%, 80.56% had rough breathing. More than 90% of CRP-tests showed a level lower than <10 mmol/l (90.56%). of CRP tests showed a significant difference with age, status of the pharynx, lungs, submandibular lymph nodes and occurring symptoms (p<0.05). During the study the unnecessarity of antibiotic useage for most of upper respiratory tract problems have been confirmed. Safely treatment of upper respiratory tract infections in primary care is possible with the extended competence of APRN. Patient education done by APRN and making CRP-tests can be a solution for overprescribing antibiotics.