Aim: 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.

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doi.org/10.1111/j.1651-2227.2012.02728.x, hdl.handle.net/1765/73826
Acta Paediatrica: promoting child health
Department of Pediatrics

Stam, J., van Stuijvenberg, M., Grüber, C., Mosca, F., Arslanoglu, S., Chirico, G., … Sauer, P. (2012). Antibiotic use in infants in the first year of life in five European countries. Acta Paediatrica: promoting child health, 101(9), 929–934. doi:10.1111/j.1651-2227.2012.02728.x