Spanish children prescribed too many antibiotics – 3.5 times as many as Norwegian kids, researchers say

MEDICAL researchers have warned of 'excessive use' of antibiotics in Spanish children, who reportedly take 50% more than those in Germany and the USA.

According to the Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research (FISABIO), part of the Valencia regional health authority, a study on children from babyhood to 18 years old between 2008 and 2012 – the most exhaustive investigation to date – at least half the antibiotic prescriptions dished out to kids are 'unnecessary'.

Already, children are starting to show presence of bacteria resistant to all known antibiotics, says scientific director of FISABIO, Dr Javier Díez-Domingo.

“We can still reverse this evolution by encouraging sensible antibiotic use,” the head researcher said, but adds: “There's still a belief that antibiotics are a panacea, despite our seeing that inappropriate use is bringing more problems than benefits.”

A greater 'social conscience' is needed, especially among paediatrics in local GP practices, Dr Díez-Domingo warns.

Great differences between the amount of antibiotic prescriptions issued have been found between countries, with those giving the most – South Korea being the main offender – handing out up to 7.5 times as many as those which dish out the least.

After South Korea, Italy and then Spain are top in the world – a long way from Norway and Germany, which issue the fewest prescriptions.

This situation is the same across all age groups in all countries studied, the FISABIO team found.

In the first two years of their lives, Spanish children receive an average of 1.5 antibiotic prescriptions per year – three of them by the age of two, similar to Italian infants.

This figure is 3.5 times that of Norway, and 50% more than Germany and the USA.

And the consequences are beginning to show: Spain is one of the EU countries with the highest antibiotic resistance in patients, along with Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria and Slovenia, whilst Norway has one of the lowest.

The report, Antibiotic use in children – a cross-national analysis of 6 countries – has been published in English in The Journal of Paediatrics.