Antibiotic-related adverse events in paediatrics: unique characteristics

Abstract

Introduction: Antibiotics have saved and are still saving countless human lives from the burden of infectious diseases. However, as with all other drugs, they can cause adverse events. Generally, these are uncommon, mild and spontaneously resolving. However, in some cases, they can cause relevant clinical problems. Compared with adults, children, particularly in the first years of life, have a higher risk of antibiotic-related adverse events for several reasons. Areas covered: In this paper, the conditions that can contribute to the elevated risk of antibiotic-related adverse events in children are discussed. Expert opinion: Antibiotic stewardship can be a solution to limit antibiotic abuse and misuse and consequently the incidence of antibiotic-related adverse events in children. Moreover, most of the antibiotic-associated adverse events can be avoided with more extensive pre-marketing medicine investigations, improved postmarket safety surveillance system, increased transparency throughout the clinical research enterprise, increased training of clinical pharmacologists and paediatric researchers, expanded pool of paediatric patients, and providing additional funding and incentives for paediatric drug development.

Keywords: Adverse event; antibiotic stewardship; antibiotics; drug development; drug safety.