Antibiotic Use for Common Infections in Pediatric Emergency Departments: A Narrative Review

Antibiotics are one of the most prescribed medications in pediatric emergency departments. Antimicrobial stewardship programs assist in the reduction of antibiotic use in pediatric patients. However, the establishment of antimicrobial stewardship programs in pediatric EDs remains challenging. Recent...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Spyridon Karageorgos, Owen Hibberd, Patrick Joseph William Mullally, Roberto Segura-Retana, Shenelle Soyer, Dani Hall
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-06-01
Series:Antibiotics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/12/7/1092
Description
Summary:Antibiotics are one of the most prescribed medications in pediatric emergency departments. Antimicrobial stewardship programs assist in the reduction of antibiotic use in pediatric patients. However, the establishment of antimicrobial stewardship programs in pediatric EDs remains challenging. Recent studies provide evidence that common infectious diseases treated in the pediatric ED, including acute otitis media, tonsillitis, community-acquired pneumonia, preseptal cellulitis, and urinary-tract infections, can be treated with shorter antibiotic courses. Moreover, there is still controversy regarding the actual need for antibiotic treatment and the optimal dosing scheme for each infection.
ISSN:2079-6382