JAMA Letter to the Editor: CDC Highlights Potentially Problematic Azithromycin Prescribing in Preschool Children

JAMA Letter to the Editor: CDC Highlights Potentially Problematic Azithromycin Prescribing in Preschool Children

In a recent letter to the editor, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), CDC experts critiqued a clinical trial studying early azithromycin treatment during respiratory infections in preschoolers with a history of frequent, severe lower respiratory infections.

In the letter, CDC experts highlighted that although early azithromycin treatment reduced the need for frequent breathing treatments, there was no significant reduction in, arguably, the most important outcomes, such as emergency visits and hospitalizations. Furthermore, CDC experts reinforced that appropriate use of antibiotics is critical due to antibiotic resistance and the risk of side effects.

Read the letter to the editor and visit the Get Smart for Healthcare websiteto learn more about improving antibiotic use in outpatient settings.

• JAMA Letter to the Editor: http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2521959
• Get Smart for Healthcare: http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/healthcare/