Antibiotic use in infants in the first year of life in five European countries.
OBJECTIVE
To assess in infants the number of illness episodes treated with antibiotics and prescription rates in five European countries.


METHODS
This study was embedded in a multicenter nutritional intervention study and was conducted in five European countries. Infants were followed until 1 year of age. Illness episodes and prescriptions of systemic antibiotics were recorded by the parents.


RESULTS
Illness episodes were caused by upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in 55-64% and by otitis media (OM) in 2-6.8%. URTIs were statistically significant and more frequently treated with antibiotics in Italy (18.8%), and less frequently in Switzerland (1.4%). OM was statistically significant and less frequently treated with antibiotics in the Netherlands (55%) when compared to Italy (82%). The antibiotic prescription rate varied between countries, ranging from 0.2 to 1.3 prescriptions per infant per year.


CONCLUSIONS
As the frequency of illness episodes did not differ between countries, other factors, such as physician's attitude, parental pressure or other socio-economic determinants, most likely play a role in antibiotic prescribing habits in the first year of life.
Department of Pediatrics, Beatrix Children's Hospital, UMC Groningen, The Netherlands. j.stam@umcg.nl
Jose
J
Stam
Margriet
M
van Stuijvenberg
Christoph
C
Grüber
Fabio
F
Mosca
Sertac
S
Arslanoglu
Gaetano
G
Chirico
Christian P
CP
Braegger
Josef
J
Riedler
Günther
G
Boehm
Pieter J J
PJ
Sauer
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D056692:Prebiotics; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D014839:Vomiting / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D056692:Prebiotics