Improper Antibiotic Prescribing Ups Kids’ Infection Hazards

May 26, 2022, 3:00 PM UTC

Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing among millions of children increased the risk of developing a potentially life-threatening infection by up to eight times, according to a study released Thursday.

The study, published by the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open, found that improper prescribing of antibiotics may be associated with greater chances of severe allergic reaction and contraction of Clostridioides difficile (C. diff)—a bacterial infection associated with antibiotic exposure.

Researchers from the Pew Charitable Trusts and Washington University in St. Louis who conducted the study estimated that inappropriate prescribing not only affected physical health but also led to at ...

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