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Antimicrobial prescribing errors in children

K Grimwood, J J Cook, G D Abbott

    The New Zealand Medical Journal
    |October 26, 1983
    PubMed

    Insights

    Pediatric antimicrobial prescribing had significant errors, especially in community settings. Inappropriate drug choices and dosages were common, necessitating improved antibiotic stewardship in children.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatrics
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Pharmacology

    Background:

    • Antimicrobial agents are frequently prescribed for pediatric infections.
    • Assessing the appropriateness of antimicrobial prescribing is crucial for patient outcomes and combating resistance.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To evaluate the appropriateness of antimicrobial prescribing in hospitalized children and those treated in the community.
    • To identify common errors in pediatric antimicrobial therapy.

    Main Methods:

    • A retrospective review of patient charts over a 120-day period.
    • Analysis of 255 pediatric patients receiving antimicrobial agents.
    • Categorization of prescribing errors, including dosage, duration, and drug choice.

    Main Results:

    • 64% of hospital-prescribed antimicrobials were appropriate; major errors involved dosage, particularly with aminoglycosides and chloramphenicol.
    • Only 11% of community-prescribed antimicrobials were appropriate or error-free.
    • Common errors in the community included prescribing for viral infections and incorrect dosage, duration, and drug selection.

    Conclusions:

    • Significant discrepancies exist in the appropriateness of antimicrobial prescribing between hospital and community settings for pediatric patients.
    • Errors in pediatric antimicrobial prescribing, especially in the community, are frequent and require targeted interventions to improve antibiotic stewardship.

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