Australia-wide point prevalence survey of the use and appropriateness of antimicrobial prescribing for children in hospital

Abstract

Objectives: To describe antimicrobial use in hospitalised Australian children and to analyse the appropriateness of this antimicrobial use.Design: Multicentre single-day hospital-wide point prevalence survey, conducted in conjunction with the Antimicrobial Resistance and Prescribing in European Children study.Setting: Eight children's hospitals across five Australian states, surveyed during late spring and early summer 2012.Patients: Children and adolescents who were inpatients at 8 am on the day of the survey.Main outcome measures: Quantity and quality of antimicrobial prescribing.Results: Of 1373 patients, 631 (46%) were prescribed at least one antimicrobial agent, 198 (31%) of whom were <..