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Compliance issues related to the selection of antibiotic suspensions for children

R W Steele1, M P Thomas, R E Bégué

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, LSU School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA. RWSteele@aol.com

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|February 15, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Choosing pediatric antibiotics involves more than just taste. Cost, therapy duration, and dosing intervals significantly impact compliance, influencing the final selection of effective antimicrobial treatments for children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pharmacology
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship
  • Health Services Research

Background:

  • Antibiotic suspensions are common in pediatric care.
  • Selection often prioritizes palatability but overlooks compliance factors.
  • Understanding compliance variables is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess palatability, cost, and compliance issues in selecting pediatric antibiotic suspensions.
  • To compare amoxicillin with 11 other commonly prescribed antibiotics.
  • To determine the influence of various factors on antibiotic selection.

Main Methods:

  • Eighty-six healthcare professionals evaluated 12 antibiotic suspensions.
  • Evaluation criteria included appearance, smell, texture, taste, and aftertaste.
  • Scoring was adjusted for cost, therapy duration (5 vs. 10 days), and dosing intervals.

Main Results:

  • Palatability rankings varied, with loracarbef and cefdinir scoring highest.
  • Overall antibiotic ratings were significantly influenced by cost, duration, and dosing.
  • Final rankings, considering all variables, placed azithromycin and cefdinir highest.

Conclusions:

  • Compliance factors are critical in selecting pediatric antimicrobial therapy.
  • Cost is a consideration, particularly for higher-priced medications.
  • Individualized assessment by healthcare providers is essential for optimal antibiotic selection.
Abstract

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