Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40913520›Full record

Observational studyPaediatric and perinatal epidemiology2026

Changes in the Dispensing of Antibiotics to Australian Children Between 2013 and 2023: Are We Heading in the Right Direction?

Erin Kelty, Ella Tairy, Scott Sims, Carol Orr, Amy Page, David B Preen, Frank M Sanfilippo, Christopher Etherton-Beer, Ebony Quintrell

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Erin KeltySchool of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.
Ella TairySchool of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.
Scott SimsSchool of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.
Carol OrrSchool of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5053-3516
Amy PageSchool of Allied Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.
David B PreenSchool of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.
Frank M SanfilippoSchool of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.
Christopher Etherton-BeerMedical School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.
Ebony QuintrellSchool of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.

Funding

National Health and Medical Research Council
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a critical public health issue, exacerbated by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. Children are particularly susceptible to bacterial infections and are frequently prescribed antibiotics.

objectiveThis study examined trends in antibiotic dispensing to children aged under 13 years in Australia between 2013 and 2023.

methodsThis retrospective observational study used a 10% random sample of dispensing records for nationally subsidised prescription antibiotics. The number of children dispensed an antibiotic was calculated for each year and expressed per 100 children. Trends were analysed using joinpoint regression overall and by age group, sex, the World Health Organisation's Access, Watch, Reserve (AWaRe) system of antibiotic classification and antibiotic subtype.

resultsBetween 2013 and 2023, 3,406,208 antibiotic prescriptions were dispensed to 554,837 children. There was a decrease in the total number of antibiotic prescriptions dispensed, falling from 103 prescriptions dispensed for every 100 children in 2013 to 63 prescriptions in 2023 (annual percent change [APC]: -6.9, 95% CI: -9.8, -4.4). While decreases were observed for medications classified as 'Access' (APC: -5.8, 95% CI: -8.7, -3.1), the largest decrease was observed in 'Watch' medications (APC: -15.0, 95% CI: -19.4, -11.7). Decreases were observed in the proportion of children dispensed an antibiotic, declining from 45.7% in 2013 to 33.6% in 2023 (APC: -4.7%, 95% CI: -7.1%, -2.5%). Reductions in dispensing were observed overall and by sex, age groups and most antibiotic types.

conclusionsAntibiotic dispensing in Australian children has decreased over the past decade, for all ages, sexes and antibiotic sub-classes, likely reflecting implemented policies and efforts to curb overuse of antibiotic medicines and AMR during this period.

Indexed as

Anti-Bacterial AgentsDrug PrescriptionsPractice Patterns, Physicians'AdolescentAustraliaChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansInfantInfant, NewbornMaleRetrospective StudiesAnti-Bacterial Agentsantibioticsantimicrobial resistanceantimicrobial stewardshippaediatric healthsegmented regression

Identifiers

PMID40913520
PMCPMC13124673

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.