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[Antibiotic prescribing in acute respiratory tract infections in general practice]
1Departamento de Microbiología, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, España.
Insights
Antibiotic prescribing for pediatric respiratory infections in Spain is high, with broad-spectrum drugs often used inappropriately. Improving antibiotic stewardship in children is crucial to combat antimicrobial resistance.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Antimicrobial stewardship
- Public health
Background:
- Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant global health threat.
- Antibiotic prescriptions for acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) are common in Spanish pediatrics.
- Understanding prescribing patterns is essential for effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the frequency and patterns of antibiotic prescriptions for ARTIs in children.
- To evaluate antibiotic use in pediatric primary care in Aragón, Spain.
Main Methods:
- A 1-year observational study included children aged 0-14 years.
- Data collected on episodes of acute otitis, acute pharyngotonsillitis, non-specific upper respiratory infection, and acute bronchitis.
- Calculated antibiotic prescription proportions per diagnosis and determined prescribing patterns.
Main Results:
- Respiratory tract infections affected 50% of children studied.
- Antibiotics were prescribed in 75% of pharyngotonsillitis, 72% of otitis, 27% of bronchitis, and 16% of non-specific upper respiratory infections.
- Broad-spectrum antibiotics like amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanic were the most frequent choices.
Conclusions:
- Antibiotic prescribing for pediatric ARTIs in the region is generally high.
- The selection of antibiotics was frequently inappropriate, potentially contributing to resistance.
- There is a clear need for improved antibiotic prescribing practices in pediatric care.
Introduction:
Antimicrobial resistance is a worldwide threat to public health. Acute respiratory tract infections are the main reason for antibiotic prescribing in the Spanish paediatric population. The aim of the study was to describe the frequency of antibiotic prescription and their pattern of use in acute respiratory tract infections diagnosed in children in Primary Care in Aragón (Spain).
Methodology:
A study was conducted over a 1-year period on children between 0 and 14 years-old, recording all episodes of acute otitis, acute pharyngotonsillitis, non-specific upper respiratory infection, and acute bronchitis. The proportion of episodes within each diagnosis receiving an antibiotic prescription was calculated, and the prescribing pattern was determined.
Results:
Half (50%) of the children in Aragón were diagnosed with a respiratory tract infection during the study period. Non-specific upper respiratory infection was the most frequent diagnosis. An antibiotic was prescribed in 75% of pharyngotonsillitis episodes, 72% of otitis, 27% of bronchitis, and 16% of non-specific upper respiratory infections. Broad spectrum antibiotics, mainly amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanic, were predominantly prescribed.
Conclusions:
Antibiotic prescribing in respiratory tract infections in children was generally high, and the choice of antibiotics was probably inappropriate in a high percentage of cases. Therefore an improvement in antibiotic prescribing in children appears to be needed.
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