Prescrizione di antibiotici in Pronto Soccorso pediatrico

Background - The emergency department (ED) is an important site of care in which inappropriate antibiotic prescribing and the consequent impact of antibiotic-resistant bacteria can be reduced. Objective - The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the pattern of antibiotic prescriptions for upper respiratory tract infections in children examined in 3 different ED located in Azienda Ospedaliera Bergamo-Est and to highlight the possibilities for a reduction and a more appropriate use of this class of drugs, overprescribed in paediatric age. Methods - A retrospective observational study was performed on children younger than 18 years of age, who were examined in a general hospital near Bergamo from January 2020 to September 2022. The proportion and type of antibiotic prescription according to demographic, clinical, laboratory and imaging data were determined. Results - 4,731 children were included in the study and 894 (18.9%) received an antibiotic prescription. The prevalence of antibiotic prescription varies with age, with a peak at 1-5 years (21.7%), and depending on the diagnosis, from 2.5 % in children with influenza to 78.4% in children with otitis. Amoxicillin/clavulanate was the most prescribed antibiotic (47% of antibiotic prescriptions), while the percentage of amoxicillin prescription was low (36%). In patients examined for pharyngotonsillitis, amoxicillin was prescribed to 43% of those treated with antibiotics. Conclusions - This study supports the need for a new comprehensive approach to ensure successful antibiotic stewardship. A guide to the use of new diagnostic tests (molecular biology, genome sequencing and immunoenzymatic assays) in a “diagnostic stewardship” perspective may be helpful; however, clinical evaluation remains of fundamental and central importance.