12.8 Percent of Unique Prescribers Prescribed Topical Antifungals in 2021
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Jan. 11, 2024 -- In 2021, 12.8 percent of unique prescribers in Medicare Part D prescribed topical antifungals, with about 6.5 million topical antifungal prescriptions filled, at a total cost of $231 million, according to research published in the Jan. 11 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Kaitlin Benedict, M.P.H., from the CDC in Atlanta, and colleagues used 2021 Medicare Part D data to examine prescription volumes, rates, and costs for topical antifungals. The volumes of total prescriptions were compared between higher-volume (top 10 percent of prescribers by volume) and lower-volume prescribers.
The researchers found that about 6.5 million topical antifungal prescriptions were filled during 2021 (134 prescriptions per 1,000 beneficiaries), at a total cost of $231 million. Overall, 12.8 percent of the 1,017,417 unique prescribers prescribed topical antifungals. The highest percentage of prescriptions was written by primary care physicians (40.0 percent), followed by nurse practitioners or physician assistants, dermatologists, and podiatrists (21.4, 17.6, and 14.1 percent, respectively). Of all prescriptions, 44.2 percent (2.9 million) were written by higher-volume prescribers.
"The substantial volume of topical antifungal and antifungal-corticosteroid prescriptions among Medicare Part D beneficiaries in the setting of emerging resistant infections underscores the need to evaluate current practices of topical antifungal use," the authors write.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted January 2024
Read this next
Guidelines Developed for Diagnosis, Management of Cryptococcosis
TUESDAY, Feb. 27, 2024 -- In a review published online Feb. 9 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, updated guidelines are presented for the diagnosis and management of...
Fungal Keratitis Prevalence Twice as High in Rural Versus Nonrural Areas
FRIDAY, Feb. 23, 2024 -- Fungal keratitis prevalence appears to be twice as high in rural versus nonrural areas, according to a research letter published online Feb. 15...
Confirmatory Testing Underused for Tinea Capitis Diagnosis
WEDNESDAY, July 12, 2023 -- Confirmatory laboratory testing is only used in one in five cases of suspected tinea capitis (TC), according to a research letter published in the July...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.