The pattern of antibiotic administration for toddlers and infants with acute respiratory infections (Mashhad- Iran)

Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) are the main cause for Antibiotic (AB) use in all age groups, specially during the first two years of life. The local information about the pattern of AB prescription in ARI is a necessary part of any program which aims for logical use of AB. The current study was designed to find the frequency and types of AB administration for ARI in young children (<2years) in Mashhad, Iran. This is an observational cohort study which started in November 2005 and ended in May 2006. The study group was composed of 1000 infants between 6 month and 20 months old. The children were followed monthly via telephone calls (for up to six month after the first interview) and were surveyed on the signs and symptoms of Acute Respiratory Infection and systemic Antibiotic use during each month. The average monthly incidence of ARI was 34.5% in the study population; 66.3 % (mean) of the children with ARI were visited by a doctor, which resulted in AB prescription in 32.7 % (mean) of times. The frequency of injectable antibiotics was almost twice for oral ABs, and benzatin penicillin was the most prminent prescribed AB (54% of all ABs). The rate of AB administration for infants with ARI is not very high in Mashad city. However, the frequency of AB injections is unacceptable.