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Demo

A Nationwide Point Prevalence Survey for Assessing Variations in Antibiotic Use Among Neonatal and Paediatric Patients in Greece

N. Spyridis, G. Syridou, K. Mougkou, S. Kouni, E. Roilides, D. Gkentzi, F. Ladomenou, E. Critselis, A. Versporten, T. Zaoutis, on behalf of ARPEC Study Group

31st Annual Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID 2013)
Milan, Italy, May 28-June 1, 2013

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Within Europe, Greece has among the highest rates of drug resistant organisms and antibiotic consumption. However, the majority of data on antibiotic utilization is derived from adult hospitalized patients. The objective of the study was to determine antibiotic utilization patterns among hospitalized children in Greece.  

 

METHODS: A point prevalence survey (PPS) of antibiotic use was conducted in November 2012 in hospitalized children in Greece within the context of the broader ARPEC study. The study sites included the paediatric and neonatal units at the 5 largest paediatric hospitals in Greece. A standardized, web-based data collection form was utilized.  

RESULTS: A total of 701 patients were included in the survey, 556 (79.3%) paediatric and 145 (20.7%) neonatal patients. Overall, 53.2% (n=296) paediatric and 46.2% (n=67) neonatal patients received ≥1 antibiotic. The most common indication for antibiotic use was systemic infection (n=102; 16.1%) followed by surgical prophylaxis (n=97; 15.3%). The most frequently prescribed antibiotics in children were third- and second-generation cephalosporins (n=72, 14.3% and n=64, 12.7%, respectively), and aminoglycosides (n=42; 7.3%). Among neonates aminoglycosides (n=32; 24.9%), third-generation cephalosporins (n=21; 16.3%), and ampicillin (n=21; 16.3%) were most often prescribed. Combinations of ≥2 antibiotics were administered to the majority (80.0%) of neonates with systemic infections (n=30).  

CONCLUSION: We found high rates and broad spectrum antibiotic use in hospitalized children in Greece. Compared to previously reported ARPEC data, the rates of use are among the highest in Europe. Antimicrobial stewardship strategies including evidence-based guidelines should be adopted in order to improve prescribing practices.