Using Belgian pharmacy dispensing data to assess antibiotic use for children in ambulatory care.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The desired effect of antibiotics is compromised by the rapid escalation of antimicrobial resistance. Children are particularly at high-risk for unnecessary antibiotic prescribing, which is owing to clinicians' diagnostic uncertainty combined with parents' concerns and expectations. Recent Belgian data on ambulatory antibiotic prescribing practices for children are currently lacking. Therefore, we aim to analyse different aspects of antibiotic prescriptions for children in ambulatory care.

Methods

Pharmacy dispensing data on antibiotics for systematic use referring from 2010 to 2019 were retrieved from Farmanet, a database of pharmaceutical dispensations in community pharmacies. Population data were obtained from the Belgian statistical office (Statbel). Descripti

SUBMITTER: Dillen H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8720940 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature