English study finds less antibiotic prescribing amid pandemicAntibiotic prescribing in general practice in England fell significantly during the first 12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the previous year, according to data released last week by Antibiotic Research UK (ANTRUK).Analysis of prescription data from the England's National Health Service showed that from March 2020 through February 2021, antibiotic prescribing by general practitioners (GPs) declined by 17% compared with the previous 12 months, and the decline occurred in almost all areas of the country.
The analysis also found that the rise in antibiotic prescribing that typically occurs in the winter in England was considerably lower for the winter of 2020 to 2021.W