Antibiotic prescribing in Belgium: ENT specialists balance guidelines with clinical experience

A survey of Belgian ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists examined antibiotic prescribing practices, attitudes toward antimicrobial resistance, and guideline adherence. According to the supplied abstract, most physicians recognize antimicrobial resistance as a global issue, but recognition of individual accountability is less pronounced. Thus, acknowledging the scale of the problem does not necessarily coincide with an equivalent understanding of one's own role.

In treatment decisions, physicians balance guideline recommendations with their own clinical experience. Guideline adherence was higher among residents and physicians working in university hospitals. The survey also identified variation in treatment decisions for common ENT infections.

The findings suggest a need to improve antimicrobial stewardship and collaboration between university and peripheral hospitals. The abstract provides no participant count, response frequencies, or quantitative estimates of between-group differences; their magnitude therefore cannot be determined from the available information. Specific antibiotics and treatment regimens are also not reported.