Improvements in antibiotic prescribing by community paediatricians in the Czech Republic.

Repeated surveys among primary care paediatricians were performed annually from 1998 to 2002 in the Czech Republic. The task was to assess the prescription of antibiotics in treatment of respiratory infections in children. The results were evaluated in the light of existing guidelines and conclusions were used in a number of interventions aimed at reducing the inadequate use of antibiotics and hence preventing the potential increase of the antibiotic resistant bacteria. In addition, data on overall consumption of antibiotics in outpatient care and trends in the prevalence of resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes are discussed.