To Resist or Not to Resist? That is the Dangerous Situation: A Look at Antimicrobial Stewardship in Pediatric Care in North America

Abstract

This article will explore the impact of antibiotic resistance on pediatric care in North America, specifically focusing on how it negatively affects patient health outcomes. The mitigation of this issue in everyday health practice will be outlined. Antibiotics are one of the most commonly prescribed medications in children, with a significant number of them being used inappropriately. Considering the growing global threat of antibiotic resistant superbugs, it is vital to develop strategies and programs for decreasing antibiotic misuse and combating antibiotic resistance. Antimicrobial stewardship is one such method of reducing antibiotic resistance and has already shown evidence of improving patient outcomes, such as decreasing risk of future invasive infections, decreasing hospitalization and decreasing mortality. With more awareness to this dangerous issue, we are beginning to see the development and implementation of a variety of practices aimed at using antibiotics judiciously in pediatric patients across North America. This article will address the severity of the issue of antibiotic resistance in pediatric care in North America and highlight how this can be managed using antimicrobial stewardship principles that are practical, evidence-based and easily implementable in healthcare practices. Although there is still much work to be done, small improvements in resistance rates show that we are moving in the right direction.