Reducing antibiotic prescriptions for childhood infections

As physicians work on proper use of antibiotics to curb antimicrobial resistance, the results of a new trial find that reminding pediatricians of best practices on prescribing antibiotics to children could reduce inappropriate use. Researchers had doctors at 19 clinics tune in to webinars and online tutorials and receive feedback on their prescribing patterns for children with ear infections, bronchitis, and respiratory infections between November 2015 to June 2018. Up to a third of antibiotics for acute respiratory tract infections are prescribed when it's not warranted, previous research has found, but the new trial led to a 7% reduction in the odds that physicians would prescribe antibiotics for these conditions. Antibiotic prescriptions for viral infections of the respiratory tract also decreased.