Antibiotic resistance has been top of mind in the healthcare industry for many years. Not only are antibiotics overprescribed, but recent research suggests children who are exposed to antibiotics during their first 23 months are more likely to develop early childhood obesity.
However, a new study in Pediatrics indicates antimicrobial stewardship programs are effective in reducing antibiotic prescribing.
Researchers retrospectively analyzed the impact of ASPs on antibiotic use for hospitalized children using data from the Pediatric Health Information System, an administrative database representing 44 freestanding children's hospitals.
They compared the differences in average antibiotic use among hospitals with ASP programs and without ASP programs from 2004 to 2012. The Infectious Diseases Society of America released guidelines for developing ASPs in 2007.
While overall antibiotic use declined, children's hospitals who implemented ASPs demonstrated a bigger decline in average antibiotic use (11 percent fewer antibiotics) than children's hospitals without ASPs (8 percent fewer antibiotics).
"These results provide evidence to support the value of ASPs in leading to reductions in antibiotic prescribing for hospitalized children," the authors conclude. "This multicenter study strengthens recommendations for universal implementation of ASPs in acute-care hospitals."
More articles on antimicrobial stewardship:
10 top patient safety issues for 2015
'Time-out' audits during antibiotic therapy reduce use, cost, C. diff rates
Antibiotic use while pregnant increases chances of childhood obesity