Antibiotic misuse less likely in doctors' children

Children of doctors and pharmacists are significantly less likely to be given antibiotics for common colds and viral respiratory infections compared with children in the general population. Antibiotic resistance might be reduced if parents were better informed about the uselessness of these agents in viral infections. Most of these prescriptions have been attributed to being a response to parental demands. Researchers from the National Yang Ming University, Taipei, examined data on more than 53,000 visits to hospital outpatient departments or physician clinics. The study involved around 21,000 children with common colds, upper respiratory infections and acute bronchitis. Comparison of children of physicians, pharmacists, nurses and non-health personnel showed that children of physicians were 50 percent less likely than others to receive an antibiotic prescription. Children of pharmacists were 69 percent less likely to be prescribed these drugs. However, for nurses, the likelihood was similar to that of the general population. Children of parents in low-income groups were also significantly more likely to receive antibiotics than those with higher incomes. The findings support the hypothesis that better parental education does help to reduce the frequency of injudicious antibiotic prescribing. However, they also note that in Taiwan, doctors can dispense drugs themselves or through on-site pharmacists. Such physicians were more than twice as likely to prescribe antibiotics as non-dispensing doctors. To help rectify the situation, the researchers advocate educational, regulatory and other efforts aimed at rational antibiotic usage.