Parental Smoking Increases Children's Infections, Antibiotic Use
by Bryant Furlow
EPI NEWS
April 24, 2007—Overprescription of antibiotics is
creating drug resistant microorganisms around the
world, so the race is on to identify ways to reduce
antibiotic use. Now, Swedish researchers investigating
the causes of antibiotic use in children have identified
one important culprit: parental smoking.
The team found that children whose parents smoke
are up to 24 percent more likely to have been
prescribed antibiotics.
Previous studies have linked exposure to secondhand
tobacco smoke with childhood respiratory and ear
infections. Worldwide, up to half of children breathe
secondhand smoke, the authors point out; parental
smoking could be a major avoidable factor in the over-
prescription of antibiotics—and hence, the emergence
of drug-resistant ‘superbugs.’
Over 8000 parents of 4-year-old children filled out
questionnaires for the study, which is reported in the
current issue of the journal Vaccine.
The study was funded by STRAMA, the Swedish
Strategic Program for the Rational Use of Antibiotics.
EPI NEWS
April 24, 2007—Overprescription of antibiotics is
creating drug resistant microorganisms around the
world, so the race is on to identify ways to reduce
antibiotic use. Now, Swedish researchers investigating
the causes of antibiotic use in children have identified
one important culprit: parental smoking.
The team found that children whose parents smoke
are up to 24 percent more likely to have been
prescribed antibiotics.
Previous studies have linked exposure to secondhand
tobacco smoke with childhood respiratory and ear
infections. Worldwide, up to half of children breathe
secondhand smoke, the authors point out; parental
smoking could be a major avoidable factor in the over-
prescription of antibiotics—and hence, the emergence
of drug-resistant ‘superbugs.’
Over 8000 parents of 4-year-old children filled out
questionnaires for the study, which is reported in the
current issue of the journal Vaccine.
The study was funded by STRAMA, the Swedish
Strategic Program for the Rational Use of Antibiotics.
| Further reading Percy Nilsson, et al. (2007) Children exposed to environmental smoking have a higher antibiotic consumption. Vaccine 25:2533-2535. World Health Organization Division of Non-communicable Disease Tobacco Free Initiative. (1999) International conference on environmental tobacco smoke and child health: consultation report. Available online: http://www.who.int/tob |
Antibiotic Resistance
| Statistical Details Environmental tobacco smoke and antibiotic use: Odds ratio (OR): 1.19 to 1.24 in four models (95% confidence intervals (CIs): 1.09-1.31 to 1.11-1.38). Other significant risk factors identified in the study included parental employment (OR 1.14 to 1.24 in four models) and day care attendance (1.24-1.37 in three models). |
