[Antibiotic Prescription Rates For Respiratory Tract Infections Treated In The Outpatient Sector Based On Routine Data From A German Health Insurance Company].

Background: Acute uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are common reasons for antibiotic prescriptions in the outpatient sector, although>90% are of viral origins and mostly self-limiting. Germany has a low antibiotic prescription rate compared to other European countries, but there are regional differences. Disease-specific quality indicators (QI) developed by the European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption Network (ESAC-Net) address the prescription rates (target <20%) and choice of antibiotic (target>80%) in a general practitioner population.