Antibiotic resistance in children is high and associated with previous antibiotic use

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-03/b-ari031116.php

Public Release: 15-Mar-2016
Antibiotic resistance in children is high and associated with previous antibiotic use
Bacterial resistance may persist for up to six months after treatment
BMJ

Antibiotic resistance in children with urinary infections is high and could render some antibiotics ineffective as first-line treatments, warns a study published by The BMJ today.

Antimicrobial resistance is an internationally recognised threat to health. Throughout the world, children are frequent consumers of antibiotics -- and such routine use has been shown to increase the probability of antibiotic resistance in adults with urinary tract infections.

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The results show a high global prevalence of resistance -- to some of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics in primary care -- in urinary tract infections in children caused by E coli.

Results were categorised by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) status of the study country as antibiotics tend to be used differently in these groups.

Within OECD countries, half of all samples were resistant to ampicillin (amoxicillin), a third to co-trimoxazole, and a quarter to trimethoprim. Resistance was substantially greater in non-OECD countries.

Lead author Ashley Bryce, PhD student at the Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol highlights that "Prevalence of resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics in primary care in children with urinary tract infections caused by E coli is high, particularly in countries outside the OECD, where one possible explanation is the availability of antibiotics over the counter."

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