BMJ  2005;331 (6 August), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7512.0-d

Reduced antibiotic prescribing did not result in more complications

Antibiotic prescribing for childhood upper respiratory infections halved between 1993 and 2003 in the United Kingdom, but hospital admissions for peritonsillar abscess and rheumatic fever have not increased. Sharland and colleagues (p 328) extracted data from drug prescribing and hospital admission databases. Admission rates for mastoiditis and simple mastoidectomy increased in the observed period by 19%, but the general practice research database did not show an increase in mastoiditis or referral for mastoidectomy.

Credit: P MARAZZI/SPL

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Relevant Article

Antibiotic prescribing in general practice and hospital admissions for peritonsillar abscess, mastoiditis, and rheumatic fever in children: time trend analysis

M Sharland, H Kendall, D Yeates, A Randall, G Hughes, P Glasziou, and D Mant
BMJ 2005 331: 328-329. [Full Text] [PDF]