Inappropriate Antibiotic Use in Children and the Rise of Antimicrobial Resistance

What is it about?

Misuse of antibiotics in children is a major and preventable factor in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), significantly contributing to the emergence, persistence, and worldwide spread of resistant bacteria. The prevalent practice of unwarranted prescriptions, improper antibiotic choices, inadequate dosages, and extended treatment durations imposes ongoing selective pressure on microbial populations, hastening the emergence of resistance mechanisms that undermine therapeutic efficacy. Paediatric populations are especially susceptible due to their significant incidence of infectious diseases, frequent antibiotic exposure in early life, and intimate interpersonal interactions that promote the spread of resistance organisms in both community and clinical environments. The swift emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens, such as extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), carbapenem-resistant organisms, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), and macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, underscores the increasing complexity of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in paediatric care. The rising resistance to broad-spectrum and last-line antibiotics is particularly alarming, as it jeopardises the efficacy of critical treatments for prevalent childhood diseases. Concurrent data indicates that repetitive and inappropriate antibiotic treatment during childhood may affect the developing microbiome, thereby heightening susceptibility to recurrent infections, chronic inflammatory disorders, and resistant bacterial colonisation in later life. These developments cumulatively highlight the urgent necessity to acknowledge AMR not solely as a clinical issue but as a significant worldwide public health concern with far-reaching consequences for future generations. This review's findings underscore that addressing antimicrobial resistance in children necessitates prompt, coordinated, and persistent efforts across clinical, public health, research, and policy sectors. Enhancing antimicrobial stewardship programmes is essential to this initiative and must encompass rigorous compliance with evidence-based prescribing recommendations, enhanced diagnostic stewardship, regular monitoring of resistance patterns, and ongoing professional education for healthcare practitioners

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Why is it important?

The aim of this study is to analyze patterns of antibiotic misuse in paediatric populations and evaluate its role in accelerating antimicrobial resistance. Additionally, this study reviews whether existing research articles on this topic adequately incorporate essential scientific components, particularly the results and discussion sections.

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