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Antibiotic use during the first 200 days of life
G R Bergus1, B T Levy, S M Levy
1Department of Family Practice, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA. george-bergus@uiowa.edu
Insights
Antibiotic use is common in infants, increasing with age. Amoxicillin was the most frequent prescription, often for otitis media.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
Background:
- Antibiotic resistance is a growing global concern.
- Understanding early-life antibiotic exposure is crucial for long-term health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and patterns of antibiotic use in infants.
- To identify factors associated with antibiotic prescriptions in early childhood.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal data collected from 789 infants in eastern Iowa.
- Questionnaires administered at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post-birth.
- Life table analysis used to determine cumulative antibiotic use rates.
Main Results:
- Antibiotic use was common, increasing with infant age.
- By 200 days of life, 70.5% of infants had received at least one antibiotic.
- Amoxicillin was the most prescribed antibiotic, followed by cephalosporins and sulfonamides.
- Otitis media was the primary indication for antibiotic treatment.
Conclusions:
- Early-life antibiotic exposure is prevalent in this cohort.
- Targeted interventions may be needed to optimize antibiotic prescribing in infants.
- Further research should explore the long-term implications of early antibiotic exposure.
Abstract:
To examine the use of antibiotics by infants in eastern Iowa, longitudinal data were collected from a cohort recruited at birth from 8 hospitals. Parents of recruited children were mailed questionnaires 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after birth. Cumulative rates of use were determined by means of life tables for any antibiotic as well as by type of antibiotic. Factors associated with antibiotic use and patterns of use were also determined. There were data for 789 children. Antibiotic use was common in our cohort and increased with age. At 50, 100, 150, and 200 days of life, 8.7%, 26.7%, 37.3%, and 70.5%, respectively, of the infants had used at least 1 antibiotic. Infants were most frequently treated with amoxicillin, followed by cephalosporins and sulfonamides. Otitis media was the illness that most commonly prompted the use of an antibiotic.