Inappropriate prescribing contributes to high antibiotic exposure in young children in Australia.
J Antimicrob Chemother
; 79(6): 1289-1293, 2024 06 03.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38629145
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Antibiotic exposure increases antimicrobial resistance and has also been associated with long-term harms, including allergies, inflammatory diseases and weight gain. We assessed antibiotic exposure in the first 2 years of life in Australian children, the factors influencing this and its appropriateness.METHODS:
Data from 1201 participants in the MIS BAIR randomized controlled trial were used. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with antibiotic exposure.RESULTS:
At 1 and 2 years of age, exposure to at least one course of antibiotics was 43% and 67%, with the highest first antibiotic prescription rate between 9 and 18â months. Amoxicillin was the most frequently used antibiotic (59%), followed by cefalexin (7%). The most common diagnoses for which antibiotics were prescribed were respiratory tract infections from 0 to 6â months of age and otitis media from 6 to 12â months. Factors associated with antibiotic exposure from 0 to 12â months of age were delivery by Caesarean section (adjusted odd-ratio (aOR) 1.5, 95%CI 1.1-1.9), birth in winter (aOR 1.7, 95%CI 1.2-2.4), maternal antibiotic exposure during the last trimester of pregnancy (aOR 1.6, 95%CI 1.1-2.3), cessation of breastfeeding by 6 months of age (aOR 1.5, 95%CI 1.1-2.0) and day-care attendance (aOR 1.4, 95%CI 1.1-1.8). Based on parent-reported questionnaires, 27% of infants were treated in the first year of life for conditions unlikely to need antibiotic treatment.CONCLUSION:
At least two-thirds of children were prescribed antibiotics in the first 2 years of life, and more than a quarter of these exposures may have been unnecessary.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Otitis Media
/
Respiratory Tract Infections
/
Inappropriate Prescribing
/
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Limits:
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
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Infant
/
Male
/
Newborn
Country/Region as subject:
Oceania
Language:
En
Journal:
J Antimicrob Chemother
Year:
2024
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Australia