Essay Antibiotic Treatment for Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Children under five years at a Private Hospital in Ekurhuleni – Research Report Assignment Help

Assignment Task:

Abstract

Introduction:

Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is one of the leading causes of death in children below the age of five years. There are two categories of pneumonia which are; community acquired pneumonia (CAP) and hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP). Pneumonia can be prevented through vaccination. However, the prevalence of other causes of pneumonia other than bacterial causes for example, viral pneumonia, are on the rise. The first part of the study introduces CAP as a condition, shows the burden of the disease (statistically) worldwide and in SA as well.

The need to look at the level of expertise to deal with such cases considering antimicrobial resistance and the HIV epidemic on the rise globally, have triggered the interest to compare between available prescribing guidelines in SA at the time of the study and the actual prescribing pattern at a particular private hospital in the Ekurhuleni district; located in Gauteng. It is important to note at this stage; that the guidelines are not enforced by any South African governing body but are there to serve as a recommendation to prescribers. 

Aim and objectives:

Main focus was on gathering data of the most commonly prescribed antimicrobials.  This report focusses on data collation for the antimicrobials prescribed (which in turn shows trends or doctor prescribing pattern), days spent in hospital, any possible correlation between choice of antimicrobial and duration of admission. Factors such as microbial cultures were considered to see if there was a rational between the antimicrobial of choice and the target microbial or causative CAP agent. Factors such as the culture yield were also explored upon discovery of similar studies elsewhere to try and consolidate or validate the pattern of empiric treatment for CAP