Analysis of antibiotic consumption for treating respiratory tract infections in children and compliance with the national clinical guidelines.

INTRODUCTION: Respiratory infections are the most common infections in children. The aims of the study were to analyze the use of antibiotics for respiratory infections in the period 2008-2010 in children's population in region of Niš and to estimate the rational use of antibiotics in relation to the recommendations of the National Guidelines for physicians in primary care.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data source was a Pharmacy Niš database. Antibiotics prescriptions were selected for the following diagnoses: H65-H75 (acute otitis media, mastoiditis), J01 (acute sinusitis), J02-J03 (tonsillopharyngitis), J12-J18 (community acquired pneumonia), J20 (acute bronchitis), J32 (chronic sinusitis), J42 (chronic bronchitis). Antibiotic consumption was expressed in defined daily dose/1000 ihhabitants/day.

RESULTS: The most widely prescribed antibiotic for the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections in children during the three years was amoxicillin (34.63; 32.50 and 31.00 defined daily dose/1000 inhabitants/day in 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively). In the treatment of infections of the middle ear and mastoid, the combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, was the most prescribed antibiotics (60% of total consumption of antibiotics for this indication). Azithromycin was the most widely prescribed antibiotic for the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections in children during the observed period (6.92; 8.20 and 7.18 defined daily dose/1000 inhabitans/day in 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively).

CONCLUSION: Recommendations of national guidelines are not complied with the treatment of upper and lower respiratory infections in the children population in region of Niš. This could be a sign of potentially irrational use of antibiotics that need to be further examined. Education of physicians can influence irrational use of antibiotics.