Race and Antibiotic Use for Children Hospitalized With Acute Respiratory Infections
Jenna H Tan1, Caitlin L McGrath1,2, Adam W Brothers3
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Insights
Children hospitalized for respiratory infections received broad-spectrum antibiotics differently based on race and ethnicity. Further research is needed to understand and address these disparities in antibiotic prescribing.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Health Equity
Background:
- Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are a common reason for pediatric hospitalization.
- Antibiotic use in hospitalized children is a significant concern due to potential for resistance.
- Racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare are well-documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate potential disparities in antibiotic prescribing for children hospitalized with ARIs.
- To examine if antibiotic use, specifically broad-spectrum agents, differs by patient race and ethnicity.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of electronic health records for hospitalized children diagnosed with ARIs.
- Comparison of broad-spectrum antibiotic receipt rates across different racial and ethnic groups.
- Statistical adjustment for relevant clinical and demographic factors.
Main Results:
- Significant differences were observed in the likelihood of receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics among various racial and ethnic groups.
- Specific racial and ethnic minorities were more or less likely to receive broad-spectrum antibiotics compared to the reference group.
- The observed differences persisted after adjusting for key confounding variables.
Conclusions:
- The study identified racial and ethnic disparities in the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics for pediatric ARIs.
- These findings highlight the need for further investigation into the underlying causes of these prescribing variations.
- Ensuring equitable antibiotic stewardship is crucial to address these health inequities.
Abstract:
We sought to evaluate whether children hospitalized with acute respiratory infections experienced differences in antibiotic use by race and ethnicity. We found that likelihood of broad-spectrum antibiotic receipt differed across racial and ethnic groups. Future work should confirm this finding, evaluate causes, and ensure equitable antibiotic use.
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