Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39883879›Full record

SynthesisJournal of global health2025

Global antibiotic prescription practices in hospitals and associated factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Rui Chen, Jinxi Li, Chan Wang, Pengfei Zhou, Qihua Song, Jianxiong Wu, Qinnan Li, Hui Li, Yanhong Gong, Tao Zeng and 2 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of global health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
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  4. Patient characteristics, antibiotic use, and in-hospital outcomes in patients with ischaemic colitis: A nationwide retrospective cohort study.Colorectal disease : the official journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Rui Chen *Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Jinxi Li *Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Chan Wang *School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Pengfei ZhouDepartment of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Qihua SongDepartment of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Jianxiong WuDepartment of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Qinnan LiDepartment of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Hui LiSchool of Health Services Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
Yanhong GongDepartment of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Tao ZengCollege of Medicine, Jingchu University of Technology, Jingmen, Hubei, China.
Yu FangDepartment of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
Xiaoxv YinDepartment of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of antibiotic prescribing among total prescriptions, the percentage of combined antibiotic prescribing among prescriptions containing at least one antibiotic, and factors influencing hospital antibiotic prescribing are currently unknown. In this systematic review, we aimed to summarise antibiotic prescribing in hospitals worldwide and identify the associated factors. Methods: We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Ovid/Embase, and the Web of Science for articles published between 1 January 2000 and 28 February 2023 that reported antibiotic prescribing in hospitals or the associated factors. Four reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias. We used meta-analysis with random-effects models to estimate the pooled effect sizes. Results: We included 403 studies covering 93 economies. The pooled prevalence of antibiotic prescribing among total prescriptions was 34.3% (95% CI = 29.6-39.3) in outpatient settings and 47.7% (95% CI = 45.8-49.5) in inpatient settings. The pooled percentages of antibiotics in the 'access' group were 48.5% (95% CI = 34.5-62.7) in outpatient settings and 43.8% (95% CI = 39.2-48.5) in inpatient settings. Subgroup analysis showed the prevalence of antibiotic prescribing was significantly higher in low-income compared to high-income economies. Additionally, there was a rising trend of the prevalence in inpatient settings over time. The studies showed that patients' gender, education level, health status, and physicians' work experience were associated with hospital antibiotic prescribing. Conclusions: The global prevalence of antibiotic prescribing in hospitals is high, with significant disparities across regions. Multifaceted measures with multi-sectoral cooperation are required, such as regulatory interventions, professional training for physicians, and public health education. Registration: PROSPERO: CRD42022354076.

Indexed as

Anti-Bacterial AgentsDrug PrescriptionsGlobal HealthHospitalsPractice Patterns, Physicians'HumansAnti-Bacterial Agents

Identifiers

PMID39883879
PMCPMC11781807

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.