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Judicious use of antibiotics for common pediatric respiratory infections
1Arkansas Children's Hospital, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, USA. jacobsrichardf@exchange.uams.edu
Background:
Antibiotic resistance among common respiratory infection-producing bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis has become a major global public health problem. The use of antibiotics, whether or not medically justified for a particular illness, contributes to the development of resistant bacteria. To help to contain the proliferation of drug-resistant bacteria, members of the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently published principles for the judicious use of antibiotics in common pediatric respiratory infections including the common cold, otitis media, sinusitis and tonsillopharyngitis. This article reviews the CDC/AAP principles for management of these illnesses and describes results of clinical practice studies in which efforts to improve the judicious use of antibiotics were undertaken.
Conclusions:
The success of the CDC/AAP principles in containing the increase in antimicrobial resistance depends upon their being practiced. Results of clinical practice studies indicate that judicious use of antimicrobial therapy in pediatric respiratory infections can be realized through education and persistence. More widespread educational and behavior modification efforts are necessary to reduce unnecessary prescription of antibiotics and to curtail the still burgeoning problem of bacterial resistance.
Insights
Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem. Following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines for judicious antibiotic use in children can help curb resistance.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis is a significant global health concern.
- Inappropriate antibiotic use accelerates the development of resistant bacteria.
- The CDC and AAP have issued guidelines for the judicious use of antibiotics in pediatric respiratory infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the CDC/AAP principles for managing common pediatric respiratory infections.
- To describe the outcomes of clinical studies evaluating efforts to promote judicious antibiotic prescribing.
Main Methods:
- Review of CDC/AAP guidelines for antibiotic use in pediatric respiratory infections.
- Analysis of clinical practice studies assessing the implementation of these guidelines.
Main Results:
- Clinical practice studies demonstrate that judicious antimicrobial therapy for pediatric respiratory infections is achievable.
- Educational and behavioral interventions are effective in improving antibiotic prescribing habits.
Conclusions:
- Adherence to CDC/AAP principles is crucial for controlling antimicrobial resistance.
- Continued educational and behavior modification efforts are necessary to reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions and combat bacterial resistance.