According to a new study parental misconceptions and lack of knowledge about antibiotic use and resistance still persist

Preschool children are at particular risk of receiving unnecessary antibiotics for acute respiratory tract infections (RTIs) because they frequently attend in ambulatory care. Many childhood infections are caused by viruses and can be self-limiting, thus do not require antibiotic treatment. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is also a growing threat for children’s health and one of the main causes leading to AMR is inappropriate use of antibiotics. New qualitative interview study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy explored parents’ perceptions and understanding of antibiotic use and resistance in the context of their young child with an acute respiratory tract infection. The study explored also strategies, which parents would find acceptable to minimize antibiotic resistance in their families. Results of the study demonstrate that there are public misconceptions about antibiotic use and resistance and very few parents considered antibiotic resistance as a possible harm of antibiotics. Study suggests that there should be more efficient ways of communication about antimicrobial resistance. Public health campaigns around antibiotic stewardship need to be tailored to reach parents and in such a format that they will engage in.

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Read more: https://academic.oup.com/jac/advance-article/doi/10.1093/jac/dkz091/5382160