Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Microbiological Rapid On-Site Evaluation for Pulmonary Infectious Diseases
03:22

Microbiological Rapid On-Site Evaluation for Pulmonary Infectious Diseases

Published on: March 1, 2024

Rational use of antimicrobials in infants in primary care of Bahrain

Khalid A J Al Khaja1, Thuraya M Al-Ansari, Awatif H H Damanhori

  • 1Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Arabian Gulf University, Kingdom of Bahrain. khlidj@agu.edu.bh

Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
|May 10, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Antimicrobial prescribing errors, including incorrect dosages, are common in infants. Healthcare providers need better strategies to ensure safe and effective antimicrobial use in pediatrics.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pharmacology
  • Infectious Disease Management
  • Primary Healthcare Research

Background:

  • Antimicrobial prescribing patterns in infants are crucial for effective treatment and resistance prevention.
  • Previous studies highlight variations in pediatric antimicrobial use, necessitating localized data.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate antimicrobial prescribing practices for infants in Bahrain's primary care settings.
  • To identify and analyze prescribing errors in pediatric antimicrobial prescriptions.

Main Methods:

  • A nationwide, prescription-based study conducted in 20 primary care health centers in Bahrain.
  • Data collection by pharmacists in May 2004, focusing on infant prescriptions.
  • Analysis of antimicrobial drug classes, dosages, frequencies, and durations.

Main Results:

  • Antimicrobials were the 5th most common drug class prescribed to infants (23.8%), with beta-lactams predominating.
  • Subtherapeutic doses were administered to 22% of infants, and errors were frequent in dosage, strength, and frequency.
  • Prescribing errors were significantly correlated with infant age for certain antimicrobials, indicating inadequate dosage adjustments.

Conclusions:

  • Overt antimicrobial use and prescription errors in infants are prevalent in primary care.
  • Inadequate attention is paid to age-appropriate antimicrobial dosage adjustments for infants.
  • Urgent need for strategies to enhance prescription writing skills among healthcare providers for pediatric patients.

More Related Videos

Use of Artificial Sputum Medium to Test Antibiotic Efficacy Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Conditions More Relevant to the Cystic Fibrosis Lung07:46

Use of Artificial Sputum Medium to Test Antibiotic Efficacy Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Conditions More Relevant to the Cystic Fibrosis Lung

Published on: June 5, 2012

Related Concept Videos

Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics01:21

Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics

Antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine by saving countless lives from bacterial infections. However, their widespread use has inadvertently harmed the delicate balance of the human gut microbiota. The gut microbiota, a complex community of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi, plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, immune responses, and maintaining intestinal health. Antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum types, disrupt this ecosystem by eradicating both harmful and beneficial...
Standard Precaution01:26

Standard Precaution

Standard precautions are the minimum infection control safeguards used while caring for all patients, irrespective of their disease condition. They help prevent the spread of common infectious microorganisms to healthcare workers, patients, and visitors in all healthcare settings.
Hand hygiene is the most crucial means to prevent the transmission of disease. Employers are legally required to provide their workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure or contact with...
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
Antimicrobial Effectiveness01:28

Antimicrobial Effectiveness

The effectiveness of antimicrobial agents depends on various factors influencing their ability to eliminate microbial populations. Larger microbial populations require more time for complete eradication, emphasizing the importance of population size analysis when evaluating antimicrobial efficacy.Microbial resistance to antimicrobial agents varies significantly. Highly resilient microorganisms include endospores, gram-negative bacteria, and non-enveloped viruses, while prions are exceptionally...
Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview01:21

Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview

When it comes to infants and young children, they are typically administered smaller doses of medication in comparison to adults. This is primarily because their organ functions still need to fully develop, meaning their bodies are not as efficient at metabolizing or eliminating drugs. Additionally, their blood-brain barrier is more permeable than in adults. As a result, high concentrations of drugs can easily penetrate the central nervous system (CNS), potentially leading to neurological...
Hand hygiene01:23

Hand hygiene

Asepsis is the practice of preventing or breaking the chain of infection. The nurse employs aseptic techniques to prevent the spread of microorganisms and reduce the risk of diseases. Hand hygiene is the cornerstone of aseptic techniques and is classified into medical and surgical asepsis. Medical asepsis includes hand hygiene and the use of gloves. Surgical asepsis, or the sterile technique, refers to practices that render and keep objects and areas free of microorganisms.
Hand washing...