Antibiotic Prescription Practices Among Children with Influenza
A Nitsch-Osuch1, E Gyrczuk2, A Wardyn2
1Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, 1a Banacha St., 02-097, Warsaw, Poland. anitsch@wum.edu.pl.
Insights
Antibiotic overuse is common in children with influenza, with 58% receiving prescriptions. Antiviral medications were underused, highlighting a need for better diagnosis and appropriate antimicrobial use in pediatric respiratory infections.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Antimicrobial Stewardship
Background:
- Antibiotic resistance is a significant global health threat, exacerbated by overuse, particularly in viral infections.
- Influenza and other viral respiratory infections in children are frequently misdiagnosed or inappropriately treated with antibiotics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of antibiotic therapy administration in children diagnosed with influenza.
- To assess the utilization of antiviral medications in pediatric influenza cases.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 114 children under 59 months with influenza-like symptoms.
- Real-time PCR testing of nasal and pharyngeal swabs to confirm influenza A and B virus infection.
- Analysis of antibiotic and antiviral prescription patterns based on patient setting (outpatient vs. hospitalized).
Main Results:
- Influenza was diagnosed in 32% of the study group (34 influenza A, 2 influenza B).
- Antibiotic therapy was prescribed to 58% of children with confirmed influenza.
- Hospitalized patients received antibiotics more frequently (93%) than outpatients (33%).
- No patients received oseltamivir (antiviral); amoxicillin with clavulanic acid, cefuroxime, and amoxicillin were common antibiotic choices.
Conclusions:
- Significant overuse of antibiotics and underuse of antivirals were observed in children with influenza.
- Improved diagnostic strategies for influenza are crucial.
- Enhanced antimicrobial and antiviral stewardship programs are necessary to optimize pediatric respiratory infection management.
Abstract:
The important factor in the development of resistance to antibiotics is their overuse, especially for viral respiratory infections. The aim of the study was to find out the frequency of the antibiotic therapy administrated to children with influenza. A total of 114 children younger than 59 months seeking care for the acute respiratory tract infection was enrolled into the study. The patients had influenza-like symptoms: fever > 38 °C, cough, and sore throat of less than 4 days duration. Nasal and pharyngeal swabs were tested for influenza A and B virus with a real-time PCR. Thirty six cases of influenza were diagnosed: 34 of influenza A (H3N2) and 2 of influenza B. The rate of influenza infection was 32 % in the study group. The antibiotic therapy was ordered for 58 % patients with influenza. Antibiotics were given less frequently in the outpatient setting (33 %) compared with the hospitalized patients (93 %) (p < 0.05). The most often administrated antibiotics were amoxicillin with clavulanic acid, cefuroxime, and amoxicillin. None of the patients received oseltamivir. Antibiotics were overused, while antivirals were underused among children with influenza. To improve health care quality, more efforts in the diagnosis of influenza and the appropriate use of antimicrobials and antivirals are required.
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