Journal Article Ppublish
PubMed: 41439416 DOI: 10.1080/1120009X.2025.2601939
A network between infectious diseases department and general practitioners for COVID-19 patients: towards a strengthened link?
J Chemother 38(7):680-684
Authors: S Dettori, C Dentone, G Averame, E Balletto, S Cardaci, F Magnè, L Pestarino, V M Messina, S Valbonesi, E Zurru, S Caroggio, A Vena, M Bassetti, A Di Biagio
Affiliations
- Infectious Diseases Unit, IRCCS Policlinic Hospital San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
- Medicalink Director, Medicalink srl, Genoa, Italy.
- General Practitioner, ASL 3, Liguria region, Genoa, Italy.
- Infectious Diseases Unit, IRCCS Policlinic Hospital San Martino, Genoa, Italy. Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Abstract
General practitioners (GPs) play a crucial role in primary care, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, collaborating with Infectious Diseases (ID) specialists. After a training period, a selected group of GPs were able to prospectively enroll patients with mild-moderate COVID-19. Clinical features, symptoms and treatment prescribed were collected. The network provided that GPs could call ID specialists through a dedicated phone number/email address asking for treatment strategies advices. In two months period, 13/16 GPs enrolled 208 patients: 92(44%) females, 110(53%) older than 65 years old. The majority of patients, 156(75%), presented to their GP within 5 days from the symptom onset and 147/201(73%) patients were positive for SARS-CoV-2. The ID consultation was requested for 12/147 (8%) patients and no antibiotic prescription was made on the SARS-CoV-2 positive group. The future goal would be to expand the network in not COVID-19, improving the management of antibiotic therapy for community acquired respiratory infections.
MeSH
Anti-Infective Agents, General Practitioners, Drug Therapy, Covid-19, Therapeutics, Communicable Diseases