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StaphAseptic™ News
MRSA infection rates increase tenfold in children
June 3, 2010
American Medical News
By Christine S. Moyer
The trend of prescribing clindamycin for children with Staphylococcus aureus may build up resistance to treating the infection, a new study says.
Clindamycin use among children hospitalized with S. aureus increased threefold during the past decade, according to a study published online May 17 in Pediatrics. In 1999, the antibiotic was used to treat 21% of S. aureus cases. In 2008, 63% of such infections were treated with the drug.
The antibiotic became popular because it effectively treats methicillin-resistant S. aureus and it can be taken orally, unlike vancomycin, which is only available intravenously, said senior study author Jason Newland, MD. But he said the problem is that physicians are using clindamycin to treat cases of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus, which can be effectively treated with different antibiotics.
Clindamycin "is used a lot. And we've learned that [S. aureus] has an incredible ability to become resistant over time. ... We don't want to overuse clindamycin," said Dr. Newland, director of the Antibiotic Stewardship Program and director of the Office of Evidence Based Practice at Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics in Kansas City, Mo. He also is an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine.
Liz Power, spokeswoman for Pfizer Inc., manufacturer of Cleocin, said the company supports the responsible use of antibiotics to treat infections. "Resistance is an issue for anyone treating infectious diseases and physicians have to make the best decisions they can with their patients."
Researchers recommend that physicians monitor antibiotic susceptibilities in their communities and practices to help them determine what drug they should use to treat S. aureus infections.
This is a portion of the original article. To keep reading visit ama-assn.org
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