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Urinary antibiotic activity in paediatric patients attending an outpatient department in north‐western Cambodia
Author(s) -
Emary Katherine R. W.,
Carter Michael J.,
Pol Sreymom,
Sona Soeng,
Kumar Varun,
Day Nicholas P. J.,
Parry Christopher M.,
Moore Catrin E.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/tmi.12398
Subject(s) - medicine , antibiotics , antibiotic resistance , urine , outpatient clinic , staphylococcus aureus , pharmacy , public health , intensive care medicine , pediatrics , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , family medicine , nursing , biology , genetics
Objective Antibiotic resistance is a prominent public and global health concern. We investigated antibiotic use in children by determining the proportion of unselected children with antibacterial activity in their urine attending a paediatric outpatient department in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Methods Caregiver reports of medication history and presence of possible infection symptoms were collected in addition to urine samples. Urine antibiotic activity was estimated by exposing bacteria to urine specimens, including assessment against multiresistant bacteria previously isolated from patients in the hospital (a methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus ( MRSA ), a multiresistant Salmonella typhi and an extended‐spectrum β ‐lactamase ( ESBL )‐producing Escherichia coli isolate). Results Medication information and urine were collected from 775 children. Caregivers reported medication use in 69.0% of children in the preceding 48 h. 31.7% samples showed antibacterial activity; 16.3% showed activity against a local multiresistant organism. No specimens demonstrated activity against an ESBL ‐producing E. coli . Conclusions Antibiotics are widely used in the community setting in Cambodia. Parents are often ill‐informed about drugs given to treat their children. Increasing the regulation and training of private pharmacies in Cambodia may be necessary. Regional surveillance of antibiotic use and resistance is also essential in devising preventive strategies against further development of antibiotic resistance, which would have both local and global consequences.