title: Use of antimicrobial agents for community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections in hospitalised children.
abstract: Data collected from 613 children aged 2-14 years who had been hospitalized for acute bronchitis, wheezing, or pneumonia were analysed to evaluate the prescribing practices of pediatricians treating community-acquired lower respiratory tract infection. Antibiotics were prescribed for 92.1% of the children: 85% had acute bronchitis, 72% had wheezing, and 97.9% had pneumonia. A high frequency of antibiotic overuse and inappropriate prescriptions was noted. In order to contain costs and limit the risk of resistant bacteria emerging, it is urgent that pediatricians and parents be educated in the proper use of antibiotics.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Department 1, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blasi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Allegra
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Principi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents