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Antibiotic exposure among young infants suffering from diarrhoea in Bangladesh

Md Ridwan Islam1, Sharika Nuzhat1, Shah Mohammad Fahim1

  • 1Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|October 27, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Over half of infants aged 2-6 months with diarrhea received antibiotics before hospitalization. This excessive antibiotic use in young children, particularly non-severely acutely malnourished infants, is a significant public health issue.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Diarrheal diseases are a major cause of childhood illness.
  • Irrational antibiotic use in children with diarrhea is a significant global health concern.
  • Limited data exists on antibiotic use in infants under six months with diarrhea.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of community antibiotic use among infants aged 2-6 months presenting with diarrheal illnesses.
  • To analyze antibiotic use patterns based on infant nutritional status, specifically severe acute malnutrition (SAM).

Main Methods:

  • A study was conducted on 5279 infants (aged 2-6 months) at a Dhaka hospital from September 2018 to June 2019.
  • Antibiotic exposure was confirmed via prescription, antibiotic packaging, or caregiver recall.
  • Nutritional status, including 257 infants with SAM, was assessed.

Main Results:

  • 52% of infants received antibiotics prior to hospital admission.
  • Non-SAM infants showed higher odds of antibiotic use (aOR=1.52) compared to SAM infants.
  • Antibiotic use increased with infant age (aOR=1.11), with azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, and erythromycin being common.

Conclusions:

  • The study highlights the high prevalence of antibiotic use in young infants with diarrhea.
  • This excessive antibiotic consumption poses a significant public health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
  • Targeted interventions are needed to curb irrational antibiotic prescribing in this vulnerable population.
Abstract

Keywords:
antibioticdiarrhoeainfantmalnutrition

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