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Pattern of upper respiratory tract infections and physicians' antibiotic prescribing practices in Bahrain

Abiola C Senok1, Abdulrahman Y Ismaeel, Fahad A Al-Qashar

  • 1Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. asenok@sharjah.ac.ae

Medical Principles and Practice : International Journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre
|April 8, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Antibiotic overuse for paediatric upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) is common in Bahrain, particularly in young children. Factors like parental pressure and lack of guidelines contribute to this issue, necessitating national guidelines and public awareness.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health concern.
  • Appropriate antibiotic prescribing for pediatric upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) is crucial to combat resistance.
  • Understanding prescribing patterns and predictors in specific regions is essential for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate antibiotic prescription patterns for pediatric URTI in Bahrain.
  • To identify predictors associated with antibiotic use in this population.
  • To inform strategies for optimizing antibiotic prescribing.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective review of 184 pediatric URTI cases at Bahrain Defence Force Hospital (March 2005-March 2006).
  • A cross-sectional survey of pediatricians, general practitioners, and emergency room physicians regarding factors influencing antibiotic prescription.
  • Analysis of demographic data, clinical presentation, investigations, and antibiotic choices.

Main Results:

  • Over half (51.6%) of pediatric URTI patients received antibiotics, with younger children (<3 years) being more likely recipients.
  • Significant predictors for antibiotic prescription included younger age, tonsillitis, and acute otitis media.
  • Amoxicillin was the most frequent antibiotic prescribed; physician-reported factors for overuse included lack of national guidelines, parental pressure, and diagnostic uncertainty.

Conclusions:

  • Antibiotic overuse for pediatric URTI persists in Bahrain.
  • Recommendations include developing national guidelines, implementing continuing medical education, public awareness campaigns, and introducing rapid diagnostic tests for streptococcal infections.
Abstract

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