Table 2 Diagnostic work-up and antibiotic prescription in aURTD^a cases presented to university hospitals or private practices

Total number of cases

n = 43

n = 184

Diagnostic work-up with PCR^b

Yes^c

25 (58%)

2 (1%)

<0.001

At least one of the symptoms listed in the guidelines^d

Yes^c

29 (68%)

37 (21%)

<0.001

Unknown

1 (3%)

42 (23%)

Hospitalization

Yes^c

31 (72%)

5 (3%)

<0.001

Pre-treated with antibiotics

Yes^c

13 (30%)

8 (4%)

<0.001

Unknown

2 (5%)

4 (2%)

Antibiotic therapy

Yes^c

31 (72%)

144 (78%)

n.s.^e

  Antibiotic classes

Potentiated aminopenicillins

28 (90%)

42 (29%)

<0.001

Third generation cephalosporins

2 (6%)

47 (33%)

0.002

Aminopenicillins

1 (3%)

40 (28%)

0.002

Tetracyclines

2 (6%)

26 (18%)

n.s.^e

Fluoroquinolones

1 (3%)

6 (4%)

n.s.^e

Amphenicols

0 (0%)

3 (2%)

n.s.^e

Macrolides

0 (0%)

3 (2%)

n.s.^e

First generation cephalosporins

0 (0%)

1 (1%)

n.s.^e

Penicillins

0 (0%)

1 (1%)

n.s.^e

  Combination or serial therapy^f

Yes^c

4 (13%)

21 (15%)

n.s.^e

  Critically important antibiotic^f

Yes^c

3 (10%)

55 (38%)

0.001

  Duration of therapy (days)

Median (range)

12 (4–27)

10 (4–37)

n.s.^e

Justification score^f

1

12 (28%)

37 (20%)

n.s.^e

2

1 (2%)

3 (2%)

n.s.^e

3

26 (61%)

22 (12%)

<0.001

4

3 (7%)

80 (43%)

<0.001

Judgement not possible

1 (2%)

42 (23%)

0.001