Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 27, 2025
A Luciferase-fluorescent Reporter Influenza Virus for Live Imaging and Quantification of Viral Infection
Published on: August 14, 2019
Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccination in Reducing Subsequent Antibiotic Prescribing in Young Children Attending
Christopher Gianacas1,2, David Muscatello1, Suzanne Blogg2
1School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Insights
Influenza vaccination in young children significantly reduces antibiotic prescriptions, potentially preventing 100,000 prescriptions annually in Australia. This highlights the importance of childhood influenza vaccination programs.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Limited data exist on the impact of influenza vaccination on antibiotic use in children.
- Antibiotic resistance is a growing global concern, necessitating strategies to reduce unnecessary prescriptions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between influenza vaccination and antibiotic prescribing patterns in Australian children aged 1-4 years.
- To determine if influenza vaccination can reduce the incidence of antibiotic prescriptions for common infections.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study was conducted using deidentified data from a large Australian primary care database.
- Antibiotic prescribing data and influenza vaccination status were analyzed for the 2018 and 2019 influenza seasons.
- Generalized estimating equations were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios for antibiotic prescribing, controlling for relevant covariates.
Main Results:
- Influenza vaccination was associated with significantly lower odds of antibiotic prescriptions in both 2018 (aOR, 0.65) and 2019 (aOR, 0.78).
- This reduction was consistent across different ages, visit frequencies, and prior antibiotic use.
- An estimated 100,000 antibiotic prescriptions could be avoided annually in Australia if all children in this age group were vaccinated.
Conclusions:
- Childhood influenza vaccination may substantially decrease antibiotic prescribing among young children.
- The potential reduction in antibiotic use should be factored into the cost-benefit analysis of influenza vaccination programs.
- These findings support broader implementation of influenza vaccination for pediatric populations to combat antibiotic resistance.
Background:
Vaccination against influenza may reduce antibiotic use, but data are limited and imprecise.
Methods:
We conducted a case-control study using deidentified data from a large national primary care database to evaluate antibiotic prescribing changes following influenza vaccination in children 1-4 years old attending primary care in the Australian 2018 and 2019 influenza seasons. Cases were prescribed β-lactam or macrolide antibiotics during the influenza season and controls were not. Influenza vaccination was documented in the medical records. Adjusted odds ratios for antibiotic prescribing according to influenza vaccination status were estimated using generalized estimating equations, controlling for age, asthma diagnosis, other vaccinations, practice visit frequency, and attendance week.
Results:
In 2018, 11 282 cases and 32 020 controls were eligible, and in 2019, 12 705 cases and 36 858 controls. Antibiotic prescriptions were less likely in vaccinated participants in 2018 (aOR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.62-0.69) and 2019 (aOR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.73-0.82) and did not vary by age, the number of GP visits, or prior prescribing of antibiotics. In the subgroup of children vaccinated in the preceding season, influenza vaccination was not associated with a reduction in antibiotic use (2018-aOR, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.90-1.39; 2019-aOR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.16-1.46). From our estimates, potentially 100 000 antibiotic prescriptions could be avoided annually in Australia if all children in this age range were vaccinated.
Conclusions:
Influenza vaccination may substantially reduce antibiotic prescribing among young children. This effect should be considered in the overall assessment of the costs and benefits of childhood influenza vaccination programs.
Related Concept Videos
01:51Vaccinations
01:28Antimicrobial Effectiveness
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:30Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed....