title: Compliance of pediatric patients with treatment involving antibiotic suspensions: a pilot study.
abstract: In collaboration with 11 German pediatricians in private practice, this pilot study assessed the treatment compliance of 289 pediatric patients (56.1% male: mean age, 53.9+/-35.6 months) who were given antibiotic suspensions (selection and duration determined by the pediatrician) to treat the following bacterial infections: acute otitis media, 34.6%; group A streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis/scarlet fever, 28.7%; lower respiratory tract infection, 18.3%; sinusitis/sinobronchitis, 9.3%; and other infections, 9.0%. The most frequently used antibiotics were amoxicillin (26.3%), erythromycin estolate (19.0%), penicillin V benzathine (14.2%), and cefaclor (13.5%). Compliance was assessed by means of a standardized telephone interview and a urine test that detects antibacterial activity using a Bacillus subtilis spore suspension. Overall compliance (positive urine test result at the end of the planned treatment period) was 79.6% (230 of 289 patients). Compliance was highest with erythromycin estolate (94.5%), followed by penicillin V benzathine (85.4%), cefaclor (76.9%), and amoxicillin (71.1%). Good compliance was also significantly associated with a patient age of > or =3 years and a treatment duration of > or =7 days. Compliance was not significantly influenced by the underlying bacterial infection. In summary, 20.4% of patients were noncompliant when treated with antibiotic suspensions.
authors.affiliation: University Children's Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hoppe
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wahrenberger
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000652:urine; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018942:Macrolides; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013535:Suspensions
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D018942:Macrolides; D010406:Penicillins; D013535:Suspensions