Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 25, 2026

Investigating the Effects of Probiotics on Pneumococcal Colonization Using an In Vitro Adherence Assay
09:20

Investigating the Effects of Probiotics on Pneumococcal Colonization Using an In Vitro Adherence Assay

Published on: April 28, 2014

13.2K

Prevalence and determinants of antibiotic exposure in infants: A population-derived Australian birth cohort study

Hayley Anderson1,2, Peter Vuillermin1,2,3,4, Kim Jachno1

  • 1Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|July 28, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Australian infants receive more antibiotics than international peers, with 50% exposed in their first year. Interventions targeting prescribing practices and risk factors are needed to reduce this antibiotic exposure.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Antibiotic exposure in infancy is a growing concern due to potential long-term health implications.
  • Understanding patterns of antibiotic use in early life is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify antibiotic exposure in Australian infants during their first year of life.
  • To identify common antibiotic classes, indications, and risk factors for exposure.
  • To compare Australian infant antibiotic exposure with international data.

Main Methods:

  • A birth cohort study involving 1074 infants in Victoria, Australia.
  • Longitudinal data collection on infection and medication via questionnaires and medical records at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.
  • Calculation of antibiotic exposure as prescriptions per person-year and days-exposed per person-year.

Main Results:

  • 50% of infants received at least one antibiotic in their first year.
  • The mean prescription rate was 0.92 per person-year, highest in infants under one month.
  • Extended-spectrum penicillins were most common, often prescribed for respiratory infections.

Conclusions:

  • Australian infants exhibit higher antibiotic exposure compared to international cohorts.
  • Modifiable risk factors, such as the number of siblings, are associated with increased exposure.
  • Interventions targeting prescriber behavior and modifiable risk factors are recommended to reduce infant antibiotic use.
Abstract

Keywords:
antibacterial agentscephalosporinsdrug resistance, infectioninfantprescription

More Related Videos

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels05:31

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels

Published on: August 7, 2017

11.1K
Population and Single-Cell Analysis of Antibiotic Persistence in Escherichia coli12:29

Population and Single-Cell Analysis of Antibiotic Persistence in Escherichia coli

Published on: March 24, 2023

2.8K

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
332
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection01:26

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
14.1K
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
377
Development of Antibiotic Resistance01:30

Development of Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern that arises when bacteria evolve mechanisms to withstand the effects of antibiotic treatments. This resistance can be intrinsic, acquired through genetic mutations, or transferred between bacteria via horizontal gene transfer. The development of antibiotic resistance poses significant challenges in treating bacterial infections and necessitates ongoing research to develop new therapeutic strategies.Intrinsic resistance occurs when bacterial...
1.7K
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
377
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
400