Aim: To assess in infants the number of illness episodes treated with antibiotics and prescription rates in five European countries. Methods: This study was embedded in a multicenter nutritional intervention study and was conducted in five European countries. Infants were followed until 1 year of age. Illness episodes and prescriptions of systemic antibiotics were recorded by the parents. Results: Illness episodes were caused by upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in 55-64% and by otitis media (OM) in 2-6.8%. URTIs were statistically significant and more frequently treated with antibiotics in Italy (18.8%), and less frequently in Switzerland (1.4%). OM was statistically significant and less frequently treated with antibiotics in the Netherlands (55%) when compared to Italy (82%). The antibiotic prescription rate varied between countries, ranging from 0.2 to 1.3 prescriptions per infant per year. Conclusions: As the frequency of illness episodes did not differ between countries, other factors, such as physician's attitude, parental pressure or other socio-economic determinants, most likely play a role in antibiotic prescribing habits in the first year of life.
Antibiotic use in infants in the first year of life in five European countries / J. Stam, M. van Stuijvenberg, C. Grüber, F. Mosca, S. Arslanoglu, G. Chirico, C.P. Braegger, J. Riedler, G. Boehm, P.J. Sauer. - In: ACTA PAEDIATRICA. - ISSN 0803-5253. - 101:9(2012 Sep), pp. 929-934. [10.1111/j.1651-2227.2012.02728.x]
Antibiotic use in infants in the first year of life in five European countries
F. Mosca;
2012
Abstract
Aim: To assess in infants the number of illness episodes treated with antibiotics and prescription rates in five European countries. Methods: This study was embedded in a multicenter nutritional intervention study and was conducted in five European countries. Infants were followed until 1 year of age. Illness episodes and prescriptions of systemic antibiotics were recorded by the parents. Results: Illness episodes were caused by upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in 55-64% and by otitis media (OM) in 2-6.8%. URTIs were statistically significant and more frequently treated with antibiotics in Italy (18.8%), and less frequently in Switzerland (1.4%). OM was statistically significant and less frequently treated with antibiotics in the Netherlands (55%) when compared to Italy (82%). The antibiotic prescription rate varied between countries, ranging from 0.2 to 1.3 prescriptions per infant per year. Conclusions: As the frequency of illness episodes did not differ between countries, other factors, such as physician's attitude, parental pressure or other socio-economic determinants, most likely play a role in antibiotic prescribing habits in the first year of life.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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