Effect of Educational Activities on Pediatricians Prescribing Oral Antibiotics in Pediatric Emergency Rooms

This Cureus study evaluated whether targeted educational activities could reduce unnecessary oral antibiotic prescribing by pediatricians in emergency rooms. Researchers compared prescribing patterns before and after an intervention that included training sessions, updated clinical guidelines, and awareness-raising on appropriate antibiotic use. Following these activities, oral antibiotic prescriptions dropped significantly—from 18.3% of pediatric emergency visits in 2017 to 12.4% in 2018—representing roughly a one-third reduction. The decline was particularly notable in conditions where antibiotics are often overused, such as viral respiratory infections. The findings show that even relatively simple, low-cost educational measures can meaningfully change prescribing behavior in busy clinical settings, helping to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use and supporting broader efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance.