Abstract Body

1) In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the frequency of (antibiotically treated) respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in primary care. We aimed to assess the frequency of general practitioner consultations and antibiotic prescribing for common infections, particularly RTIs, per week during the first wave.

2) Routine health care data from the Julius General Practitioners’ Network were collected from March - May 2019 (n=389,708) and March - May 2020 (n=405,688 registered patients). Data on consultations for respiratory/ear, urinary, gastrointestinal and skin infections were collected. The numbers of infectious disease episodes (total and those treated with antibiotics), were calculated and compared.

3) Fewer RTI episodes were observed during the pandemic (RR 0.90 [CI 0.88-0.92]) and fewer RTI episodes were treated with antibiotics (RR 0.54 [CI 0.52-0.58]). The antibiotic prescription rate declined (21% to 13%). The decline in RTI episodes and antibiotic prescribing took place during weeks 15-19, mid-COVID-19 wave, after an initial peak in week 11, the first week of lock-down. Decreases in number of RTI episodes were most notable in the youngest and oldest age categories (RR 0.61 [CI 0.58-0.64] and RR 0.82 [CI 0.78-0.86], respectively). The antibiotic prescription rate decreased in all age categories. We found no evidence of an increase in complications (pneumonia, mastoiditis).

4) Our findings indicate that the frequency of RTI episodes and antibiotic prescribing decreased in the weeks 15-19, mid-way through the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, after an initial peak the first week of lock-down. Decreases in the number of RTI episodes were most notable in the youngest and oldest patients.