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Compliance of pediatric patients with treatment involving antibiotic suspensions: a pilot study
1University Children's Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.
Insights
Pediatric antibiotic suspension compliance was 79.6% in this study. Higher compliance was observed with specific antibiotics, older children, and longer treatment durations for bacterial infections.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Pharmacology
- Public health
Background:
- Antibiotic resistance is a growing concern.
- Treatment compliance in pediatric patients is crucial for effective management of bacterial infections.
- Understanding factors influencing compliance can improve therapeutic outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess treatment compliance rates in pediatric patients receiving antibiotic suspensions.
- To identify factors associated with antibiotic compliance in children.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of different antibiotic agents in a real-world clinical setting.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study involving 289 pediatric patients across 11 German pediatric practices.
- Antibiotic selection and duration were determined by individual pediatricians.
- Compliance was measured using standardized telephone interviews and urine tests detecting antibacterial activity.
Main Results:
- Overall compliance with antibiotic suspensions was 79.6%.
- Erythromycin estolate showed the highest compliance rate (94.5%), followed by penicillin V benzathine (85.4%).
- Good compliance was associated with patient age of 3 years or older and treatment duration of 7 days or longer.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of pediatric patients (20.4%) exhibited noncompliance with antibiotic suspensions.
- Compliance varied by antibiotic agent, with erythromycin estolate and penicillin V benzathine demonstrating higher rates.
- Age and treatment duration are key factors influencing pediatric antibiotic compliance.
Abstract:
In collaboration with 11 German pediatricians in private practice, this pilot study assessed the treatment compliance of 289 pediatric patients (56.1% male: mean age, 53.9+/-35.6 months) who were given antibiotic suspensions (selection and duration determined by the pediatrician) to treat the following bacterial infections: acute otitis media, 34.6%; group A streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis/scarlet fever, 28.7%; lower respiratory tract infection, 18.3%; sinusitis/sinobronchitis, 9.3%; and other infections, 9.0%. The most frequently used antibiotics were amoxicillin (26.3%), erythromycin estolate (19.0%), penicillin V benzathine (14.2%), and cefaclor (13.5%). Compliance was assessed by means of a standardized telephone interview and a urine test that detects antibacterial activity using a Bacillus subtilis spore suspension. Overall compliance (positive urine test result at the end of the planned treatment period) was 79.6% (230 of 289 patients). Compliance was highest with erythromycin estolate (94.5%), followed by penicillin V benzathine (85.4%), cefaclor (76.9%), and amoxicillin (71.1%). Good compliance was also significantly associated with a patient age of > or =3 years and a treatment duration of > or =7 days. Compliance was not significantly influenced by the underlying bacterial infection. In summary, 20.4% of patients were noncompliant when treated with antibiotic suspensions.