Antibiotic use in ambulatory care for acutely ill children in high-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Journal article

As part of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in children looking at the impact of a combination of a multistrain probiotic and vitamin C on upper respiratory tract infection symptoms, we have explored antibiotic prescription during the study. Antibiotic usage in children for acute respiratory tract infections is quite widespread. In this study the incidence rates for oral antibiotic prescriptions were significantly reduced in the Lab4 probiotic/vitamin C group compared to the placebo; children had a lower risk of being prescribed antibiotics (Risk Ratio: 0.60, 95 % CI: 0.39, 0.94, P = 0.0239, per protocol; Risk Ratio: 0.72, 95 % CI: 0.49, 1.05, P = 0.0890, intention to treat, respectively). These data suggest that supplementation with the probiotic/vitamin C may help to reduce antibiotic prescriptions in children

Authors: Burvenich, R; Dillen, H; Trinh, NTH; Freer, J; Wynants, L

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Journal: Archives of Disease in Childhood
• Volume: 107
• Issue: 12
• Pages: 1088-1094
• Publication date: 2022-08-10
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2022-324227
• EISSN: 1468-2044
• ISSN: 0003-9888
• Language: English
• Keywords: Internal medicine; Antibiotics; Meta-analysis; Respiratory tract infections; Health care; Ambulatory; Pediatrics; Emergency medicine; Medicine; Psychological intervention; Medical prescription; Intensive care medicine; MEDLINE; Ambulatory care