Effect of Establishment of Treatment Guidelines on Antibiotic Prescription Pattern for Children with Upper Respiratory Tract Infection

Background: Upper respiratory tract infection in childhood is a common cause of antibiotic description which increases the likelihood for emergence of antibiotics-resistant microorganisms leading to increased illness, deaths, and substantial economic loss. Objective: To evaluate antibiotics prescription pattern for children and to establish clinical practical guidelines for judicious antibiotic use in upper respiratory tract infection. Methodology: Randomized controlled trail, Pediatric cases of upper respiratory tract infection were studied for overall antibiotics and disease specific prescription rate and their relation to several risk factors. Result: Significant reduction of overall antibiotic prescription between intervention and control groups was 0.008 with odd ratio 1.2 and confidence interval CI 0.62-2.39. By using logistic regression models for antibiotic prescription as dependant outcome variable showed to be significant and influenced by; assignment to intervention and control groups, primary diagnosis, associated symptoms were cough, sputum and pain also discussion with parent before prescription. Conclusion: Using standardized guidelines for pediatric antibiotic prescription in upper respiratory tract infection as intervention method caused reduction in antibiotics' prescribing rates for some upper respiratory tract diseases, while maintaining a high level of prescription in others. [Ghada. M. Khalil, Abdullah A Alghasham, and Yasser F Abdelraheem. Effect of Establishment of Treatment Guidelines on Antibiotic Prescription Pattern for Children with Upper Respiratory Tract Infection. Life Sci J 2012;9(2):481-486]. (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 71