Prescribing Antibiotics for Children with Acute Conditions in Public Primary Care Clinics in Singapore: A Retrospective Cohort Database Study

Abstract

Data on primary care antibiotic prescription practices for children in Singapore, which are essential for health care policy, are lacking. We aimed to address this gap and to benchmark prescription practices against international standards. A retrospective cohort database study on antibiotic prescriptions for children (aged n = 4506, 51.3%) and otitis media (n = 174, 49.4%) was low compared to the quality indicator (80–100%). There is a need to develop local evidence-based primary care antibiotic guidelines, as well as to support the development of stewardship programmes.

Keywords

• paediatric
• primary care
• antimicrobial use