Impact analysis of expanding narrow-spectrum antibiotic use for children with ear, sinus and throat infections

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina Barbosa ◽  
Andrew Breck ◽  
Grant King ◽  
Sarah Bass ◽  
Yoojin Kook ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Costs ◽  
Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Impact Analysis ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Tree Model ◽  
Societal Costs ◽  
Narrow Spectrum ◽  
National Implementation ◽  
Tract Infections

Aim: Estimate the impacts treating acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) in children aged 6 months through 12 years with narrow-spectrum antibiotics. Materials & methods: Decision-tree model to estimate children’s health, healthcare utilization and costs, and caregiver’s time and costs for using narrow-spectrum antibiotics in eligible children with an ARTI, compared with current use of narrow- and broad-spectrum antibiotics. Results: Reduced adverse drug reactions by 35,750 (14%) cases) and 4750 (12%) fewer emergency department visits, 300 (12%) fewer hospitalizations, and 50,500 (10%) avoided outpatient visits. Annual healthcare costs fell by US$120 million (22%). Total societal costs declined by US$131 million (20%). Conclusion: National implementation of narrow-spectrum antibiotics to treat ARTIs in children improves patient outcomes and reduces caregiver burden and annual healthcare costs.

scholarly journals How reliable is procalcitonin as an inflammatory marker?1)

2012 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. ---
Author(s):  
Katharina Biller ◽  
Peter Fae ◽  
Reinhard Germann ◽  
Autar K. Walli ◽  
Peter Fraunberger
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Diagnostic Tool ◽  
Plasma Levels ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Inflammatory Marker ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Intensive Care Patients ◽  
Tract Infections

Abstract The role of procalcitonin (PCT) plasma levels as a diagnostic tool for intensive care patients has been intensively investigated during the past years. In particular for recognition of bacterial infections, PCT levels have been shown to be superior to other clinical and biochemical markers. Furthermore, some very recent studies show that in patients with lower respiratory tract infections PCT guided antibiotic therapy reduces antibiotic use and thereby may also reduce duration of stay of patients in hospital and thus cut hospitalisation costs. However, various studies indicate that the value of PCT as a prognostic marker is limited because of false positive or negative values. Despite these limitations PCT plasma levels are currently measured in intensive care units. The present study summarises the possible clinical uses of this laboratory marker as a diagnostic tool for the assessment of critically ill patients.

Evaluation of Parental Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Antibiotic Use in Acute Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Children in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Turkey

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aslınur Albayrak ◽  
Nazmi Mutlu Karakaş ◽  
Bensu Karahalil
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Tract Infections

Abstract BackgroundUpper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are common in children. Most URTIs have been shown to be of viral origin. Inappropriate use of antibiotics is one of the main causes of antibiotic resistance. The problem of unnecessary antibiotic use among children is a concern for antibiotic resistance in low- and middle-income developing countries.MethodsOur study is a cross-sectional survey study. It was carried out between 14 December 2020 and 1 April 2021 for parents over 18 years of age with a child under 18 years’ old who applied to the general pediatrics outpatient clinics of Gazi University Faculty of Medicine Hospital Department of Pediatrics.Results554 parents responded to the questionnaire. A total of 15.7% of parents stated to use antibiotics in any child with fever. 37% of parents believed that antibiotics could cure infections caused by viruses. 6.3% of parents declared that they put pressure on pediatricians to prescribe antibiotics. 85.6% of the parents stated that they never gave their children non-prescription antibiotics when they had a high fever. 80.9% of them declared that they never used past antibiotics in the presence of a new infection. Female gender, high level of education, high income level and low number of antibiotics used in the last 1 year were found to be statistically significant with the better knowledge level of the parents (p <0.05).ConclusionAccording to the results of our study of parents' lack of knowledge about antibiotics in Turkey, though generally it shows proper attitude and behavior. It shows that some of the restrictions imposed by the National Action Plan are partially working. However, it is still necessary to continue to inform parents, pediatricians and pharmacists about the use of antibiotics, and to be more sensitive about the prescribing of antibiotics, and if necessary, sanctions should be imposed by the state in order to prevent unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions.

The effect of probiotics on prevention of upper respiratory tract infections in the paediatric community – a systematic review

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-211
Author(s):  
İ.E. Emre ◽  
Y. Eroğlu ◽  
A. Kara ◽  
E.C. Dinleyici ◽  
M. Özen
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Paediatric Population ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Tract Infections

Prevention of acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) is becoming an increasingly important concept in public health application due to the increase in antibiotic resistance. Probiotics have been shown to have some effect on prevention in various reviews. In this study we aimed to re-asses the effect of probiotics as there has been a substantial increase in literature regarding the effects and safety of probiotics in the paediatric population. Two major databases were systematically searched to identify clinical trials eligible for inclusion. Study selection, data extraction and quality assessment were carried out by two reviewers. This review comprises 33 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) applied to a paediatric population with high-quality methodology. The primary outcome for this review was the incidence of respiratory tract infections. Secondary outcomes were severity of symptoms, missed days of school, incidence of antibiotic use and safety of prebiotic use. This review showed that probiotics have an impact on decreasing the incidence of URTIs and the severity of symptoms. The use of probiotics is extremely safe and as studies increase in evaluation of the effect of probiotics more and more show a significant beneficiary effect. Although still a long way from becoming a unanimous treatment modality, the small positive changes that probiotics have on URTIs is important to consider and the use of probiotics should be encouraged more.

scholarly journals An Assessment of Inappropriate Antibiotic Use and Guideline Adherence for Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J Durkin ◽  
Matthew Keller ◽  
Anne M Butler ◽  
Jennie H Kwon ◽  
Erik R Dubberke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Urinary Tract Infections ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Antibiotic Prescribing ◽  
Prescribing Practices ◽  
Duration Of Treatment ◽  
Minimal Impact ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background In 2011, The Infectious Diseases Society of America released a clinical practice guideline (CPG) that recommended short-course antibiotic therapy and avoidance of fluoroquinolones for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs). Recommendations from this CPG were rapidly disseminated to clinicians via review articles, UpToDate, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website; however, it is unclear if this CPG had an impact on national antibiotic prescribing practices. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of outpatient and emergency department visits within a commercial insurance database between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2013. We included nonpregnant women aged 18–44 years who had an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis code for a UTI with a concurrent antibiotic prescription. We performed interrupted time series analyses to determine the impact of the CPG on the appropriateness of the antibiotic agent and duration. Results We identified 654 432 women diagnosed with UTI. The patient population was young (mean age, 31 years) and had few comorbidities. Fluoroquinolones, nonfirstline agents, were the most commonly prescribed antibiotic class both before and after release of the guidelines (45% vs 42%). Wide variation was observed in the duration of treatment, with &gt;75% of prescriptions written for nonrecommended treatment durations. The CPG had minimal impact on antibiotic prescribing behavior by providers. Conclusions Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing is common for the treatment of UTIs. The CPG was not associated with a clinically meaningful change in national antibiotic prescribing practices for UTIs. Further interventions are necessary to improve outpatient antibiotic prescribing for UTIs.

Pan-European Survey of Patients' Attitudes to Antibiotics and Antibiotic Use

1996 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Branthwaite ◽  
J-C Pechère
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
Working Adults ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Short Course ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Short Courses

This study was carried out to determine patient perceptions of respiratory tract infections and attitudes to taking antibiotics, thus helping doctors to have a better understanding of their patients and their requirements. Telephone interviews were conducted in the UK, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain and Turkey using standardized questionnaires directed at patients who had taken an antibiotic or given one to their child for a respiratory tract infection within the previous 12 months. Approximately 200 working adults (≤ 55 years), 200 elderly adults (> 55 years) and 200 mothers of children (< 12 years) from each country were contacted; in total, 3610 subjects. Pressure on GPs to prescribe antibiotics was highlighted by over 50% of interviewees' believing that they should be prescribed for most respiratory tract infections. Although interviewees were positive about antibiotics, with over 75% judging them to be effective and to speed recovery, some ambivalence was shown. Most patients waited 2 – 3 days before consulting their doctor and over 80% of respondents expected symptoms to improve after 3 days' treatment. This provided a natural watershed for compliance, with most defaulters stopping after 3 days because they felt better. Second only to fewer side-effects, patients ranked shorter and more convenient dosage alongside efficacy as the improvements most sought in antibiotic therapy. In conclusion, patients regarded antibiotics as important in the treatment of respiratory tract infections, with interest shown in short-course, once-daily therapy. Doctors, however, need to reassure patients that short courses will eradicate infections and have minimal adverse effects on the immune system.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document