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Decrease of antibiotic consumption in children with upper respiratory tract infections after implementation of an

V Papaevangelou1, A Rousounides, A Hadjipanagis

  • 1Second Department of Pediatrics, P & A Kyriakou Children's Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
|December 14, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Pediatrician education significantly reduced antibiotic misuse in children in Cyprus. Parental knowledge remained unchanged, indicating targeted interventions are key to curbing antibiotic overuse.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Infectious Disease Control

Background:

  • Antibiotic misuse in children is a significant public health concern.
  • Understanding parental and pediatrician knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) is crucial for effective interventions.
  • Previous interventions have shown variable success in reducing antibiotic consumption.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of an intervention on antibiotic misuse among children.
  • To assess changes in KAP regarding antibiotic use in parents and pediatricians.
  • To determine the effectiveness of targeted pediatrician education versus broader interventions.

Main Methods:

  • A pre- and postintervention study was conducted in Larnaca and Limassol, Cyprus.
  • Intervention focused on parents and pediatricians in Larnaca.
  • Data collected included KAP questionnaires, URTI visit documentation, and antibiotic consumption data.

Main Results:

  • The antibiotic consumption/URTI incidence index significantly decreased in Larnaca postintervention.
  • No significant reduction was observed in Limassol, where the intervention was not implemented.
  • Parental KAP scores remained unchanged, suggesting the reduction was not due to parental behavior shifts.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatrician education is an effective strategy for reducing antibiotic consumption in children.
  • Targeted interventions focused on healthcare providers can successfully address antibiotic misuse.
  • Further research should explore long-term impacts and scalability of such educational programs.

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