Patterns of Antimicrobial Use in Hospitalized Children: A Repeated Point Prevalence Survey From Pakistan

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Antimicrobial Stewardship
• Public Health Surveillance

Background:

• Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health threat.
• Effective antibiotic stewardship programs are crucial for optimizing antibiotic use in hospitals.
• Pediatric populations may have unique patterns of antibiotic consumption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of antibiotic use in hospitalized children.
• To identify targets for interventions within antibiotic stewardship programs.
• To evaluate the utility of the Global-PPS methodology in pediatric settings.

Main Methods:

• Conducted three repeated point prevalence surveys (PPSs) in pediatric wards across five hospitals.
• Utilized the methodology developed by Global-PPS for data collection.
• Analyzed data from 916 hospitalized pediatric patients.

Main Results:

• A high prevalence of antibiotic use was observed, with 865 out of 916 patients (94.6%) receiving at least one antibiotic.
• Identified specific areas and patient groups with high antibiotic consumption, indicating potential targets for stewardship interventions.
• Demonstrated the feasibility and value of repeated PPS using the Global-PPS methodology in pediatric healthcare settings.

Conclusions:

• Antibiotic prescribing is highly prevalent in hospitalized children.
• The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and robust antibiotic stewardship programs in pediatric wards.
• The Global-PPS methodology is a valuable tool for monitoring and improving antibiotic use in pediatric populations.