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. 2023 Mar 1;12(3):491.
doi: 10.3390/antibiotics12030491.

Prevalence and Predictors of Using Antibiotics without a Prescription in a Pediatric Population in the United States

Kiara Olmeda  1 , Barbara W Trautner  2   3 , Lindsey Laytner  1 , Juanita Salinas  1 , Stephanie Marton  4   5 , Larissa Grigoryan  1   3
Affiliations

Prevalence and Predictors of Using Antibiotics without a Prescription in a Pediatric Population in the United States

Kiara Olmeda et al. Antibiotics (Basel). .

Abstract

Non-prescription antibiotic use (using antibiotics without clinical guidance) increases the risk of the development of antibiotic resistance, adverse drug reactions, and other potential patient harm. Few studies have explored non-prescription use in children in the U.S. From January 2021 to April 2022, a diverse sample of caregivers of children under 18 years were surveyed in English and Spanish at two safety net clinics in Texas. We assessed the prevalence of antibiotic use in children in the previous 12 months, storage of antimicrobials, and intended use of non-prescription antibiotics (professed intention for future non-prescription antibiotic use). We also measured sociodemographic factors, types of antibiotics used, and symptoms that trigger non-prescription use. The response rate was 82%, and 17% were surveyed in Spanish. Of 322 participants surveyed, three Spanish-speaking caregivers reported giving non-prescription antibiotics to their child in the previous 12 months. Approximately 21% (n = 69) reported storing antimicrobials at home, specifically amoxicillin (n = 52), clindamycin (n = 10), cephalexin (n = 5), penicillin (n = 3), and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (n = 3). Nearly 15% (n = 46) reported intention to give non-prescription antibiotics to their children. Younger caregiver age was associated with storage and intended use of non-prescription antibiotics. Our findings will guide the development of an educational intervention to decrease non-prescription antibiotic use.

Keywords: antibiotic use; antimicrobial resistance; antimicrobial stewardship; non-prescription antibiotic use; pediatric.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prevalence of reported prior use, storage of antimicrobials, and intended use of antibiotics. Percentages represent participants who reported previous use of non-prescription antibiotics, storing antimicrobials at home, and intending to use non-prescription antibiotics for their child. See Methods for detailed definitions.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Prevalence of intended use per predefined symptom/illness. Percentages represent participants who reported intention to use non-prescription antibiotics for a given symptom/illness.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Types and number (n) of reported antimicrobials stored at home.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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