Characterization of Antibiotic Treatment among Children Aged 0–59 Months Hospitalized for Acute Bacterial Gastroenteritis in Israel

Background: We examined the extent and correlates of appropriate antibiotic use among children hospitalized with bacterial acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in Israel, a high-income country setting. Methods: Data were collected from children aged 0–59 months who participated in active hospital-based surveillance of AGE undertaken during 2007–2015. Bacterial AGE was defined as having a positive stool culture for Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, or dysentery. Appropriate antibiotic use was defined as the administration of ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, or third-generation cephalosporins during hospitalization or at discharge. Results: Overall, 550 children had bacterial AGE; of those, 369 (67.1% [95% CI 63.1–70.9]) received antibiotics, mostly azithromycin (61.8%) and third-generation cephalosporins (37.9%). Appropriate antibiotic treatment was given to 318/550 (57.8% [95% CI 53.7–61.9]). Children aged 0–11 months vs. 24–49 months were more likely to receive appropriate antibiotic treatment (OR = 1.90 [95% CI 1.09–3.33]). Having dysentery (OR = 5.30 [95% CI 3.35–8.39]), performing blood culture (OR = 1.59 [95% CI 1.02–2.48]), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (OR = 1.01 [95% CI 1.01–1.02]) were positively associated with receiving appropriate antibiotic treatment. Conclusions: Most children with bacterial AGE received appropriate antibiotic treatment, which correlated with young age, dysentery, CRP level, and performing blood culture, suggesting more severe illness, thus supporting the clinical decisions of physicians.