Apparent overuse of antibiotics in the management of watery diarrhoea in children in Abakaliki, Nigeria

• Published in: BMC infectious diseases Vol. 19; no. 1; p. 275
• Main Authors: Efunshile, Akinwale M, Ezeanosike, Obumneme, Nwangwu, Chukwuemeka Chijioke, König, Brigitte, Jokelainen, Pikka, Robertson, Lucy J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 21.03.2019; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Aetiology; Age; Ambulatory care; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Antibiotic treatment; Antibiotics; Antimicrobial agents; Antiprotozoan agents; Bacterial infections; Care and treatment; Child, Preschool; Children; Cholera; Cohort Studies; Cryptosporidium; Diarrhea; Diarrhea - drug therapy; Diarrhea - epidemiology; Diarrhea - etiology; Disease; Gastrointestinal agents; Gentamicin; Gentamicins; Health care; Humans; Inappropriate Prescribing - statistics & numerical data; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infections; Infectious diseases; Intravenous administration; Logistic regression; Malnutrition; Metronidazole; Mortality; Nigeria; Nigeria - epidemiology; Number systems; Paediatric diarrhoea; Parents & parenting; Patient satisfaction; Pediatric research; Pediatrics; Probiotics; Public health; Questionnaires; Regression analysis; Rehydration; Rotavirus; Signs and symptoms; Spreadsheet software; Studies; Supportive therapy; Teaching hospitals; Tropical diseases; Viral infections; Nigeria; United States > US; Antibiotic treatment; Nigeria; Paediatric diarrhoea; Aetiology; Supportive therapy
• ISSN: 1471-2334; 1471-2334
• DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-3899-1

Diarrhoea remains an important cause of childhood mortality in Nigeria, with Rotavirus and Cryptosporidium reported to have the highest contribution. However, high use of antibiotics for treatment of paediatric diarrhoea has been observed, although World Health Organization guidelines discourage the use of antibiotics for treating acute diarrhoea. Here we investigated more closely management and treatment practices for acute paediatric diarrhoea, both in home and healthcare settings. Children under 5 years of age (n = 199) presenting at healthcare centres in Abakaliki, Nigeria with acute watery diarrhoea were included in the study. Background information on the children was collected by questionnaire, including home treatments, and clinical information including symptoms and treatment were provided by the healthcare centres. Analysis of faecal samples from the children indicated that over 90% had Rotavirus infection and over 6% Cryptosporidium infection. Data were compiled in a spreadsheet and analysed for associations between variables and use of antibiotics using logistic regression analysis. Although most children were treated supportively (oral rehydration solution and intravenous fluids at home and in healthcare settings, respectively) over 15% were given anti-diarrhoea drugs at home and over 85% were also prescribed antibiotics at the healthcare centre, mostly ciproflaxin, but also metronidazole and gentamycin. The only variable positively associated with antibiotic prescription was diarrhoea more than three times per 24 h at admission. It is clear that young children presenting with acute watery diarrhoea to healthcare centres in Abakaliki are likely to be prescribed antibiotics, despite there being no obvious reason that this treatment is appropriate. Our study results support the need for institution-based antimicrobial stewardship being implemented in Nigeria.