Antibiotic Prescribing for Children With Colds, Upper Respiratory Tract Infections, and Bronchitis

Abstract

INCREASING rates of antibiotic resistance in community pathogens have focused the attention of researchers and clinicians on this public health problem.¹ Prior to 1980, more than 99% of all Streptococcus pneumoniae cases were susceptible to penicillin. In the past decade, however, up to 40% of clinical isolates have demonstrated intermediate- and high-level resistance to penicillins and cephalosporins in children.^2-6