Why do paediatricians prescribe antibiotics? Results of an Italian regional project

Moro, Maria Luisa; Marchi, Massimiliano; Gagliotti, Carlo; Mario, Simona Di; Resi, Davide

doi:10.1186/1471-2431-9-69

Cited by 86 publications

(98 citation statements)

References 20 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The prescribing attitudes of physicians with regards to acute otitis media (AOM) are in consistent with those reported in the international literature [13] [16]. In these studies, over 60% of pediatricians implemented the "watchful waiting" practice for the management of AOM, while other studies focusing on hospital and primary health care reported "watchful waiting" rates ranging from 45% to 50% [17] [18]. In addition, the often administration of antibiotics in pharyngitis without obtaining throat cultures is also reported by Geitona et al [13] and Paluck et al [18] As far as the use of antibiotics for the prevention of secondary respiratory tract infections, our study showed that it was slightly lower than those found in a Greek study [13].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 75%

Antibiotics’ Prescribing and Pharmacovigilance Attitudes among Pediatricians and Pediatric Residents in Cyprus

Geitona¹,

Toska²,

Latsou³

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: The inappropriate, irrational use or misuse of antibiotics is observed in all health systems and in all patients' groups worldwide, especially for children, where antibiotics continue to be the drugs most commonly prescribed. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in all public pediatric clinics in the Republic of Cyprus, from April to May 2015. A questionnaire was distributed to pediatricians in order to identify the antibiotic prescription practices in common childhood diseases and attitudes towards Pharmacovigilance. The SPSS 19.0 was used for the statistical analysis. In total 42 pediatricians and pediatric residents filled out the questionnaire. Results: A significant percentage of the respondents administered empirical therapy for possible group A streptococcus infection (59.5%), they implemented the "watchful waiting" tactic in acute otitis media (66.7%), whereas 11.9% of them administered antibiotics for the prevention of secondary respiratory tract infections. The majority of physicians did not feel diagnostic uncertainty leading to antibiotics prescribing (90.2%) and their prescribing habits were not influenced by parental demand (80.5%). Although 23.1% of physicians observed often/very often Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) after antibiotic administration during their clinical practice, however, 47.6% of the pediatricians declared that they did not report them. Conclusion: Health professionals' continuing education on the use of therapeutic guidelines and protocols and the development of Pharmacovigilance programs could significantly contribute to the avoidance of the misuse of antibiotics in hospital care as well as to health professionals' awareness on rational prescribing.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 75%

Antibiotics’ Prescribing and Pharmacovigilance Attitudes among Pediatricians and Pediatric Residents in Cyprus

Geitona¹,

Toska²,

Latsou³

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It is not surprising that in a study conducted in the outpatient setting, patients whose doctors routinely prescribed antibiotics for cold symptoms were more prone to use antibiotics without the advice of a physician (30). Finally, diagnostic uncertainty may also be addressed as a cause of inappropriate prescription (31). The findings in this study have important implications for understanding the targets of future educational campaigns to control the use and the misuse of antibiotics.…”

Section: Self-prescriptionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Pattern of antibiotic use in the community: Νon-adherence and self-prescription rates in an Italian urban population

et al. 2012

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. The aim of the present study was to assess the pattern of antibiotic use in a community setting of an urban area of Italy and identify factors that affect adherence to their use. By using a questionnaire-based survey, we collected 1,269 interviews and performed analysis on those patients who had their last course of antibiotic within the past 12 months (956 subjects). Among the subjects reporting that they had not followed their last antibiotic course as prescribed, 14.7% stopped therapy early, 5.4% modified the dosage, and 5% changed the prescribed antibiotic. Approximately 23% of the subjects declared that they self-prescribed antibiotics. After adjusting for all covariates, major predictors for the selfprescription of antibiotics were younger age, female gender and higher socioeconomic and educational status. Conversely, both low educational and socioeconomic status were associated with a higher risk of non-adherence to physician indications. The findings of this study assessed the widespread pattern of poor antibiotic-taking behavior and provides important implications for understanding the targets of future educational campaigns to control the use and misuse of antibiotics.

show abstract

“…The parents' lack of knowledge about proper antibiotic use can, therefore, be expected to cause inappropriate antibiotic prescription. However, even when parents have a good understanding of the issue, physicians tend to prescribe antibiotics, because they perceive parents' queries about the treatment plan as an expectation for antibiotic use 50,53,54) . A previous study reported that parents were satisfied when the physicians took what they perceived as an adequate amount of time to examine their child, regardless of 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% more than 2 points whether an antibiotic was subsequently prescribed 57) .…”

Section: Can We Prescribe Fewer Antibiotics ?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Diagnostic uncertainty also results in inappropriate antibiotic use 54) . Currently, quick and easy devices for detecting antigens of etiological agents such as Mycoplasma, influenza virus, RSV, and adenovirus, are being developed.…”

Section: Can We Prescribe Fewer Antibiotics ?mentioning

confidence: 99%

A Challenge to Appropriate Antibiotic Use in Children With Respiratory Infections: A 5-Year Single-Institution Experience

Matsumoto

Hashimoto

Kawasaki

2011

FJMS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

: BackgroundWe have studied the rate of emergence of anitibiotic -resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) and Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae) and the subsequent antibiotic use in host patients of those isolates at the Department of Pediatrics, Soma General Hospital, Fukushima. Moreover, we carried out several studies investigating the risks and benefits of antibioticfree treatment for children with respiratory infections. In this report, we summarize our research and suggest better treatment options for pediatric patients with respiratory infections. MethodsWe investigated the necessity of antibiotic use in the treatment of pediatric inpatients with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, and tested our hypothesis that antibiotic -free treatment for common cold will reduce the number of resistant S. pneumoniae strains in the pediatric nasopharynx. Therefore, we restricted prescribing antibiotics for pediatric patients with respiratory infections. The rates of resistant S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae and the medication history of the host patients before and after the intervention were compared. ResultsWe found that most of the RSV -infected patients recovered without antibiotic treatment, and that the antibiotic -free treatment inhibited the emergence of antibiotic -resistant strains. The rate of penicillin -resistant S. pneumoniae decreased but the rate of ampicillin -resistant H. influenzae did not change significantly during the study. ConclusionWe concluded that patients with respiratory infections can be treated without antibiotics, under careful examination and observation. Continued monitoring of such new interventions as well as recommending their use to other caregivers and physicians will help inhibit the spread of resistant strains.

show abstract

Why do paediatricians prescribe antibiotics? Results of an Italian regional project

Abstract: Background: To investigate determinants of antibiotic prescription in paediatric care, as a first step of a multilevel intervention to improve prescribing for common respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in a northern Italian region with high antibiotic prescription rate.

Cited by 86 publications

References 20 publications

Antibiotics’ Prescribing and Pharmacovigilance Attitudes among Pediatricians and Pediatric Residents in Cyprus

Antibiotics’ Prescribing and Pharmacovigilance Attitudes among Pediatricians and Pediatric Residents in Cyprus

Pattern of antibiotic use in the community: Νon-adherence and self-prescription rates in an Italian urban population

A Challenge to Appropriate Antibiotic Use in Children With Respiratory Infections: A 5-Year Single-Institution Experience

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About