Antimicrobial stewardship in pediatrics: use of antibiotics in hospitalized pediatric patients in Peru

Background: The inappropriate use of antibiotics leads to a range of clinical and administrative problems. Understanding antibiotic use in different contexts is therefore essential.This study aims to describe antibiotic use among hospitalized patients in a specialized pediatric center in Peru. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Data were collected using the WHO methodology for point prevalence surveys of antimicrobial use. All patients hospitalized during November 2023 were included. Demographic data, antibiotic use, and types of infections were recorded. Results: A total of 252 patients were evaluated, of whom 127 (50.4%) received 186 antibiotic treatments. Most patients (58.7%) received only one antibiotic prescription. Most infections treated were healthcare-associated infections, with empirical treatment initiated based on a diagnosis of clinical sepsis. The most used antibiotics were vancomycin (21.5%), meropenem (15.6%), and piperacillin/tazobactam (10.8%). Most antibiotics were prescribed empirically at the discretion of the treating physician. Conclusions: Ongoing evaluation of antibiotic use patterns is essential to develop targeted interventions aimed at improving infection control and reducing antimicrobial resistance.