Vol.67 No.4 July 2019
Action plan targeted at antimicrobial resistance in the field of pediatrics
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Subspecialties, National Center for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1 Okura, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Abstract
Children are at an increased risk for infections and are important targets for the prevention of emergence of antimicrobial resistance. However, resistance against first-line agents against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli, which are the primary culprits of pediatric infectious diseases, has already emerged over the past 2-3 decades, and resistance is now also evolving against the alternative broad-spectrum antibiotics. Inappropriate use of antibiotics against community-acquired infections is thought to be one of the major drivers of such resistance. Antimicrobial stewardship programs have been adopted in inpatient settings, where restriction of the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and consultations with infectious disease specialists have not only successfully curbed the use of antibiotics, but also improved antibiotic susceptibility and reduced patient mortality. Effective approaches in the primary care setting are still unknown, however, government-issued practice guidelines, prescription monitoring, and promotion of the formation of community-wide consensus are being adopted.
Key word
antimicrobial resistance, pediatric infectious diseases, antimicrobial stewardship
Received
September 12, 2018
Accepted
January 15, 2019
Jpn. J. Chemother. 67 (4): 446-451, 2019
