quality reports : Clinical Quality


Quality Insights: Clinical Quality in Primary Care

Pediatric Care:
Correct Antibiotic Use for Upper Respiratory Infections

Healthcare quality measure: This measure shows how often doctors do not prescribe antibiotic medicine (such as penicillin) for children (3 months to 18 years old) who are diagnosed with colds, sore throats, or other upper respiratory infections. A high score means that your child’s doctor is using antibiotics correctly.

Reasons for this measure: The common cold is the most frequent type of upper respiratory infection in children. Young children (3 months to 6 years old) may get up to eight colds each year. Older children (7 to 18 years old) may get as many as four colds each year.

Antibiotics do not cure colds, most sore throats, the flu, or other types of virus illness. In fact, antibiotics can cause harm if they are used when not needed. This is because germs can become resistant to antibiotics (when the medicine no longer helps). Studies show that antibiotics should only be used to treat bacterial infections, not viruses.

Ways your doctor can help...

  • Determine (find out) if your child has a cold or other type of virus illness.
  • Not prescribe antibiotics for colds or other types of viruses. In these cases, antibiotics can cause more harm than good.
  • Maybe prescribe other medicines or ways to help children with colds feel better.
  • Maybe test your child for a bacterial infection (such as strep throat). Antibiotics can be very helpful for infections like these.

    • Ways you can help...

    • Talk with your child’s doctor about the correct use of antibiotics.
    • Wait to see if your child’s symptoms get better. Symptoms of a common cold include a runny nose, cough, and fever.
    • Only give your child an antibiotic if the doctor prescribes it.
    • If your child’s doctor does prescribe an antibiotic, make sure your child takes it correctly. This includes taking the antibiotic until it is finished.
    • Help prevent colds or lessen the chance of your child getting one. You can do so by: washing hands often, staying away from people who have colds, and keeping your child’s toys and play spaces clean.

    Ways to learn more...

    Click here to search for your doctor's medical group results
    or to compare measures across medical groups.

     

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