Ceasing Antibiotic Treatment Three Days After Clinical Improvement For Pediatric Patients With Febrile UTI Increases Risk Of Recurrence, But Reduces Antibiotic Use And Adverse Events, Study Finds

MedPage Today (4/4, Bassett) reported a study found that “for children with febrile urinary tract infection (UTI), stopping antibiotic treatment 3 days after clinical improvement increased the risk of recurrence but reduced antibiotic use and related side effects compared with a standard 10-day treatment.” Researchers concluded, “Because shorter antibiotic courses align with antimicrobial stewardship principles by reducing side effects, healthcare costs, and disruption to the host microbiome while improving patient convenience and adherence, further research is needed to identify children at high risk of UTI recurrence to avoid compromising care for most children with febrile UTI who respond well to shorter courses.” The study was published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.