title: Sequential antimicrobial therapy: treatment of severe lower respiratory tract infections in children.
abstract: Although there have been a number of studies in adults, to date there has been little research into sequential antimicrobial therapy (SAT) in paediatric populations. The present study evaluates the impact of a SAT protocol for the treatment of severe lower respiratory tract infection in paediatric patients. The study involved 89 paediatric patients (44 control and 45 SAT). The SAT patients had a shorter length of hospital stay (4.0 versus 8.3 days), shorter duration of inpatient antimicrobial therapy (4.0 versus 7.9 days) with the period of iv therapy being reduced from a mean of 5.6 to 1.7 days. The total healthcare costs were reduced by 52%. The resolution of severe lower respiratory tract infection with a short course of iv antimicrobials, followed by conversion to oral therapy yielded clinical outcomes comparable to those achieved using longer term iv therapy. SAT proved to be an important cost-minimizing tool for realizing substantial healthcare costs savings.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Practice Research Group, School of Pharmacy, The Queen's University of Belfast, Ireland.
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Al-Eidan
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: McElnay
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Kearney
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Troughton
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jenkins
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020682:Cefixime / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002439:Cefotaxime / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D020682:Cefixime; D002439:Cefotaxime