Updated guideline for the management of upper respiratory tract infections in South Africa: 2008
Introduction: Inappropriate use of antibiotics for non-severe upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), many of which are viral, adds to the burden of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance is increasing in Streptococcus pneumoniae, the microorganism responsible for most cases of acute otiti...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AOSIS
2009-04-01
|
| Series: | South African Family Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/1366 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849234093246513152 |
|---|---|
| author | A.J. Brink |
| author_facet | A.J. Brink |
| author_sort | A.J. Brink |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Inappropriate use of antibiotics for non-severe upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), many of which are viral, adds to the burden of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance is increasing in Streptococcus pneumoniae, the microorganism responsible for most cases of acute otitis media (AOM) and acute bacterial sinusitis (ABS).
Method: The Infectious Diseases Society of Southern Africa held a multidisciplinary meeting to draw up a national guideline for the management of URTIs in 2003. Background information reviewed included randomised controlled trials, existing URTI guidelines and local antibiotic susceptibility patterns. The initial document was drafted at the meeting. Subsequent drafts were circulated to members of the working group for modification. The guideline was published in the South African Medical Journal in 2004 and was a consensus document based upon the opinions of the working group. In 2008 it was decided to update and republish the guideline. This was done electronically using the same working group members, including overseas experts.
Output: Penicillin remains the drug of choice for tonsillopharyngitis. Single-dose parenteral administration of benzathine penicillin is effective, but many favour oral administration twice daily for 10 days. Amoxycillin remains the drug of choice for both AOM and ABS. A dose of 90 mg/kg/day is recommended in general, which should be effective for pneumococci with high-level penicillin resistance (this is particularly likely in children ≤2 years of age, in day-care attendees, in cases with prior AOM within the past six months, and in children who have received antibiotics within the last three months). Alternative antibiotic choices are given in the guideline, with recommendations for their specific indications. These antibiotics include amoxycillin-clavulanate, some cephalosporins, the macrolide/azalide and ketolide groups of agents and the respiratory fluoroquinolones.
Conclusion: The guideline should assist rational antibiotic prescribing for URTIs. However, it should be continuously updated when new information becomes available from randomised controlled trials and surveillance studies of local antibiotic susceptibility patterns. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-36dc581666bb49ccadbc3f1c6fa38f80 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2078-6190 2078-6204 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2009-04-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-36dc581666bb49ccadbc3f1c6fa38f802025-08-20T04:03:17ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042009-04-0151210.1080/20786204.2009.108738211060Updated guideline for the management of upper respiratory tract infections in South Africa: 2008A.J. Brink0Working Group of the Infectious Diseases Society of Southern AfricaIntroduction: Inappropriate use of antibiotics for non-severe upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), many of which are viral, adds to the burden of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance is increasing in Streptococcus pneumoniae, the microorganism responsible for most cases of acute otitis media (AOM) and acute bacterial sinusitis (ABS). Method: The Infectious Diseases Society of Southern Africa held a multidisciplinary meeting to draw up a national guideline for the management of URTIs in 2003. Background information reviewed included randomised controlled trials, existing URTI guidelines and local antibiotic susceptibility patterns. The initial document was drafted at the meeting. Subsequent drafts were circulated to members of the working group for modification. The guideline was published in the South African Medical Journal in 2004 and was a consensus document based upon the opinions of the working group. In 2008 it was decided to update and republish the guideline. This was done electronically using the same working group members, including overseas experts. Output: Penicillin remains the drug of choice for tonsillopharyngitis. Single-dose parenteral administration of benzathine penicillin is effective, but many favour oral administration twice daily for 10 days. Amoxycillin remains the drug of choice for both AOM and ABS. A dose of 90 mg/kg/day is recommended in general, which should be effective for pneumococci with high-level penicillin resistance (this is particularly likely in children ≤2 years of age, in day-care attendees, in cases with prior AOM within the past six months, and in children who have received antibiotics within the last three months). Alternative antibiotic choices are given in the guideline, with recommendations for their specific indications. These antibiotics include amoxycillin-clavulanate, some cephalosporins, the macrolide/azalide and ketolide groups of agents and the respiratory fluoroquinolones. Conclusion: The guideline should assist rational antibiotic prescribing for URTIs. However, it should be continuously updated when new information becomes available from randomised controlled trials and surveillance studies of local antibiotic susceptibility patterns.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/1366upper respiratory tract infections |
| spellingShingle | A.J. Brink Updated guideline for the management of upper respiratory tract infections in South Africa: 2008 South African Family Practice upper respiratory tract infections |
| title | Updated guideline for the management of upper respiratory tract infections in South Africa: 2008 |
| title_full | Updated guideline for the management of upper respiratory tract infections in South Africa: 2008 |
| title_fullStr | Updated guideline for the management of upper respiratory tract infections in South Africa: 2008 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Updated guideline for the management of upper respiratory tract infections in South Africa: 2008 |
| title_short | Updated guideline for the management of upper respiratory tract infections in South Africa: 2008 |
| title_sort | updated guideline for the management of upper respiratory tract infections in south africa 2008 |
| topic | upper respiratory tract infections |
| url | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/1366 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ajbrink updatedguidelineforthemanagementofupperrespiratorytractinfectionsinsouthafrica2008 |