Open AccessUnnecessary antimicrobial prescribing for upper respiratory tract infections in children in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Author(s) -
Lehlohonolo J. Mathibe,
hle Perseverance Zwane
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
african health sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.391
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1729-0503
pISSN - 1680-6905
DOI - 10.4314/ahs.v20i3.15
Subject(s) - medicine , respiratory tract infections , antibiotics , limiting , antimicrobial , upper respiratory infections , intensive care medicine , pediatrics , family medicine , respiratory system , mechanical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , engineering
Background: Acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are contagious diseases of the upper airways, but they are self-limiting in nature. Therefore, antimicrobial-use for the majority of the URTIs is considered inappropriate. Unfortu- nately, globally, antimicrobials are still being prescribed for the treatment of URTIs, especially in children. However, there is insufficient evidence on the causes of this phenomenon in South Africa.
Objective: To investigate whether the parents/guardians accompanying children with URTIs expected/influenced physi- cians and/or nurses to prescribe antibiotics.
Methods: This was a prospective descriptive and explorative questionnaire-based study. Participants were guardians who accompanied children aged five years and below, diagnosed with acute URTIs.
Findings: Three hundred and six parents/guardians participated in this study. Seventy six percent (n=233) of participants received antibiotics for URTIs for their children, and 67% (n=156) of these did not make requests for antimicrobial therapy. On overall, there was a statistically significant (p < 0.0001) chance (with OR of 5.9; 95% CI, 2.4 – 14.2) for receiving antibi- otics for URTIs without a request.
Conclusion: Physicians and other healthcare providers need education on rational prescribing of antimicrobials, and to implement evidence-based standard treatment guidelines, to reduce inappropriate use of antibiotics in children with self-lim- iting URTIs.
Keywords: Antibiotics; antimicrobials; prescribing; upper respiratory tract infections; children.