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Published on: February 9, 2011

Antibiotic use in pediatric patients admitted to a referral hospital in Botswana

Brian T Fisher1, Peter A Meaney, Samir S Shah

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases and Departments of Pediatrics and Anesthesia and Critical Care, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. bria@email.chop.edu

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
|June 27, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Antibiotic prescribing in Botswana

Area of Science:

  • Global Health
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatric Medicine

Background:

  • Inappropriate antimicrobial drug use is a known issue in hospitalized patients in the United States.
  • Antibiotic prescribing patterns in hospitals within developing countries are less well-documented.
  • Understanding antibiotic use in these settings is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the antibiotics prescribed to pediatric inpatients in Botswana.
  • To identify potential areas for intervention regarding antibiotic use in this specific population.
  • To address the gap in documentation of antibiotic use in developing countries.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of antibiotic prescriptions.
  • Data collected from 91 pediatric inpatients in a Botswana hospital.
  • Evaluation of prescribed antibiotic therapy duration.

Main Results:

  • The study identified that the duration of prescribed antibiotic therapy can be excessive in pediatric inpatients.
  • Findings highlight a potential for antibiotic overuse in this healthcare setting.
  • Specific data on antibiotic prescribing in Botswana's pediatric population was gathered.

Conclusions:

  • Excessive duration of antibiotic therapy is a concern for pediatric inpatients in Botswana.
  • Interventions are needed to reduce antibiotic overuse in this setting.
  • Further research into antimicrobial stewardship in developing nations is warranted.

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