Variation in antibiotic prescription rates in febrile children presenting to emergency departments across Europe (MOFICHE): A multicentre observational study.
Nienke N HagedoornDorine M BorensztajnRuud Gerard Gerard NijmanAnda BalodeUlrich von BothEnitan D CarrolIrini EleftheriouMarieke EmontsMichiel van der FlierRonald de GrootJethro Adam HerbergBenno KohlmaierEmma LimIan K MaconochieFederico M TorresDaan NieboerMarko PokornFranc StrleMaria TsoliaShunmay YeungDace ZavadskaWerner ZenzClementien VermontMichael LevinHenriette A Mollnull nullPublished in: PLoS medicine (2020)
In this study, we observed wide variation between European EDs in prescriptions of antibiotics and broad-spectrum antibiotics in febrile children. Overall, one-third of prescriptions were inappropriate or inconclusive, with marked variation between EDs. Until better diagnostics are available to accurately differentiate between bacterial and viral aetiologies, implementation of antimicrobial stewardship guidelines across Europe is necessary to limit antimicrobial resistance.