According to Tramper’s calculations, approximately 30 out of every 1,000 newborns in the Netherlands are given antibiotics. However, only 1 in 1000 is found to have a bacterial infection. This means that around 2,500 to 5,000 babies may be given antibiotics unnecessarily.
Right to fewer antibiotics
With her research, pediatrician Tramper wants to get a clearer picture of antibiotic use in newborns. “Dutch newborns have the right to receive fewer antibiotics,” she says.
Giving antibiotics (unnecessarily) can have negative consequences, says the pediatrician. This means you have a greater chance of developing asthma, eczema or obesity later in life. This has everything to do with the early development of the bacteria in the intestine. “So every day you can give fewer antibiotics is a gain.”
However, whether or not to administer antibiotics to newborns remains difficult to assess, says the pediatrician. “These are infections in newborns that show symptoms on the first day of life, such as a temperature that is too high or too low.”
Act quickly
If this is caused by a bacterial infection, the baby will benefit from receiving antibiotics as soon as possible, according to Tramper. But the symptoms are not always caused by bacteria. If the baby is then given antibiotics, it can be harmful to his health when this was not necessary.
Same kind of care
According to Tramper, you should therefore investigate whether a newborn baby actually has a bacterial infection before antibiotics are administered. Not all hospitals now apply the same standards when it comes to antibiotics in newborns. “But you want everyone to have the opportunity for the same kind of care,” the pediatrician concludes.
2024-03-01 16:36:27
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