Outpatient Antibiotic Use and Prevalence of Antibiotic-Resistant Pneumococci in France and Germany: A Sociocultural Perspective

摘要

The prevalence of penicillin-nonsusceptible pneumococci is sharply divided between France (43%) andGermany (7%). These differences may be explained on different levels: antibiotic-prescribing practices forrespiratory tract infections; patient-demand factors and health-belief differences; social determinants,including differing child-care practices; and differences in regulatory practices. Understanding these deter-minants is crucial for the success of possible interventions. Finally, we emphasize the overarching impor-tance of a sociocultural approach to preventing antibiotic resistance in the community