Term: Antibiotic Use

Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2010-08-05

Definition:

Antibiotics are a type of medication typically prescribed to treat bacterial infections. Antibiotic use is measured as the percentage of people who have had at least one prescription for antibiotics (ATC codes J01 and G04A) in a fiscal year.

In Brownell et al. (2008), antibiotic use was measured using only ATC code J01, and also looked at the average number of antibiotic prescriptions per 1000 children prescribed this type of medication. For a list of antibiotic medications, including the DINs and ATC codes, used in the Child Health Atlas Update (2008), please see the Links section below.

Related terms 

• Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Drug Classification System
• Antibiotic Prescription
• Drug Identification Number (DIN)

Links 

• List of Antibiotics Used in Child Health Atlas Update - 2008

References 

• Brownell M, De Coster C, Penfold R, Derksen S, Au W, Schultz J, Dahl M. Manitoba Child Health Atlas Update. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2008. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Fransoo R, Martens P, The Need to Know Team, Burland E, Prior H, Burchill C, Chateau D, Walld R. Sex Differences in Health Status, Health Care Use, and Quality of Care: A Population-Based Analysis for Manitoba's Regional Health Authorities. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2005. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Kozyrskyj A, Carrie AG, Mazowita GB, Lix L, Klassen TP, Law B. Decrease in antibiotic use among children in the 1990s: not all antibiotics, not all children. CMAJ 2004;171(2):133-138. [Abstract] (View)
• Kozyrskyj A, Dahl ME, Chateau DG, Mazowita GB, Klassen TP, Law BJ. Evidence-based prescribing of antibiotics for children: Role of socioeconomic status and physician characteristics. Can Med Assoc J 2004;171(2):139-145. [Abstract] (View)
• Martens PJ, Bartlett J, Burland E, Prior H, Burchill C, Huq S, Romphf L, Sanguins J, Carter S, Bailly A. Profile of Metis Health Status and Healthcare Utilization in Manitoba: A Population-Based Study. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2010. [Report] [Summary] [Updates and Errata] [Additional Materials] (View)