Background
Throughout its existence, humanity has been in a constant fight against infections. Infections pose a significant threat to children’s health since they can lead to severe consequences in the form of damage to the respiratory organs. This can lead to an extended stay in a medical institution or death in case of incorrect and untimely treatment.
Antibiotics, in turn, play a crucial role in preventing the spread of germs, enabling effective treatment of infections. With the emergence of antibiotics, opportunities for nurses and doctors have significantly improved, as antibiotics effectively combat bacterial pathogens (Williams et al., 2018). These drugs have solved many problems associated with infections; however, they have also contributed to the emergence of new ones.
Statement of the Problem
Treatment of children with antibiotics is an under-researched issue, which creates a specific gap in the study of their effects. Nevertheless, scientists should devote more detailed attention and analysis to this topic. This is because, when choosing this method to combat the disease, several problems may arise.
The first of them is the emergence of resistance to certain antibiotics. This necessitates either searching for alternative treatment methods or accepting complete treatment failure. Another problem may be the lack of monitoring of antibiotic use and its excessive and improper use, which can lead to serious side effects and disruption of the microbiome.
Purpose of the Study
Providing safe, quality medical care in accordance with basic nursing standards is mandatory for treatment. At the same time, when using antibiotics, the treatment must be based on scientific evidence from studies. This is important to ensure that antimicrobial treatment of children is consistent with all norms, with the overriding goal of establishing the well-being of pediatric patients.
In this regard, this work aims to address knowledge gaps regarding the treatment of children with antibiotics. This should be based on evidence related to policies and norms for the provision of quality health care. The safety of children during antibiotic treatment should be the primary and imperative standard.
Research Question
The resolution of the research issue seems to be the main task of researchers. This is because it helps thin out the further course of scientific work. In other words, it helps identify key steps, such as the methods, design, sampling, research type, and literature to be used. Thus, within this work’s framework, a gap was identified in the literature regarding the antimicrobial treatment of children.
The milking effects of antibiotic use are a problem that can lead to numerous side effects. Among them, one of the most dangerous is the disruption of the microbiota and the balance of beneficial bacteria in the body. In addition, antibiotic resistance may develop, rendering the patient unable to be treated with antibiotics later in life.
Hence, the research question is, “What strategies can be applied to avoid negative long-term effects after antibiotic treatment of children?” To address the issue, a rational and reasonable antibiotic prescription is necessary to prevent side effects. In addition, it is important to explore educational programs and alternative treatment strategies to determine the best treatment options.
Significance to Nursing
Before starting a study, it is necessary to determine the contribution that it can make to the healthcare sector, providers, and patients. Antibiotics are important to use as they can quickly and effectively treat many diseases. Henceforth, multiple studies show that these medications contribute to reducing the number of deaths among underage patients. In the pediatric population, the most common bacterial infections include meningitis, invasive pneumococcal infection, tetanus, and skin and ear infections.
At the same time, mortality is relatively high and, in the case of tetanus, can reach 60% of patients (Ogundare et al., 2021). “The mortality rate from pneumonia in children under three years of age before the use of antibiotics was 30%: in children over three years of age, it was 15%, and croup pneumonia had a death risk of 84.5%” (Lee et al., 2018, p. 24). This statistic justifies the use of powerful drugs, without which effective treatment could not be delivered.
Different types of antibiotics differ in their actions and may be prescribed depending on the disease. Thus, there are penicillin, macrolides, cephalosporins, and tetracyclines (Agga et al., 2021). Their action methods are similar, leading to the gradual weakening of the cell wall and the destruction of bacteria.
Antibiotics are also divided into broad- and narrow-spectrum antibiotics. The first category is applied to overcome Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria regardless of their type (McLaughlin & Van Der Donk, 2020). Narrow-spectrum antibiotics tend to target specific categories of bacteria and may be less effective against others. Thus, the effect of antibiotics on bacterial infections is reasonably practical.
With antibiotics, it became virtually possible to eliminate pneumonia deaths among children. The long-term consequences of improper antibiotic use include the emergence of antibiotic resistance, disturbances of the microbiota, allergies, and an increased risk of atopic dermatitis. Other consequences of taking these drugs for a long time are the development of dependence and resistance (Berman & Krysan, 2020). This reduces the possible number of treatment methods.
Moreover, researchers are still uncertain about the long-term effects of antibiotic treatment, which is concerning. Thus, this study is critical because it will expand knowledge about the use of antibiotics in the treatment of children and their long-term health consequences. Eliminating the long-term side effects of antibiotics is crucial because they can cause significant harm to children in adulthood.
Role of Nurses
The significance of nurses in administering antibiotics cannot be overstated, as they play a pivotal role in enhancing patient safety and optimizing treatment outcomes. Nurses play a vital role across multiple facets of antibiotic therapy, including medication administration, patient evaluation, education, collaboration with healthcare professionals, and adherence to established protocols (Williams et al., 2018). Improving nursing practice is crucial in addressing deficiencies in nursing knowledge and practice concerning antibiotic treatment. The aforementioned objective can be achieved through interventions, educational initiatives, interdisciplinary collaboration, and strict adherence to established protocols.
The role of nurse educators in enhancing nursing practice regarding antibiotic treatment is of considerable importance. Professionals can create and implement educational initiatives that prioritize evidence-based antibiotic practices, encourage compliance with established protocols, and deter the development of antibiotic resistance (Gligor & Domnariu, 2020). Continuous education and periodic updates can enhance nurses’ proficiency and expertise in administering antibiotics, monitoring patients, and educating them. Effective antibiotic treatment necessitates collaboration among healthcare professionals, encompassing nurses, physicians, and pharmacists (Agga et al., 2021). Effective adherence to standard protocols can be facilitated by open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making, which can also help address concerns or deviations.
Nurse educators can lead quality improvement initiatives to oversee and assess antibiotic prescribing practices, adherence to protocols, and patient outcomes. The use of data-driven feedback can pinpoint specific areas in need of improvement and guide targeted interventions to enhance nursing practice (Ogundare et al., 2021). It is imperative to promote critical thinking and empowerment within the nursing profession. Nurses must receive education on the importance of questioning orders and advocating for patient safety when deviations from standard practices are detected.
Establishing a conducive milieu that nurtures analytical reasoning, expert independence, and the fortitude to articulate dissenting views will guarantee optimal results for individuals under medical care. By implementing these strategies, nurse educators can facilitate nurses’ empowerment in administering safe and effective antibiotic therapy, thereby mitigating antibiotic resistance and enhancing patient outcomes (Williams et al., 2018). The aforementioned endeavors are poised to exert a noteworthy influence on the field of nursing, thereby leading to advantageous outcomes for both patients and the healthcare system at large.
Theoretical Framework
The study’s theoretical framework is based on the nursing needs theory. Virginia Henderson developed this theory, which suggested that the central role of a nurse is to help people achieve independence in their basic needs (Gligor & Domnariu, 2020). In addition, nursing should focus on each person’s unique needs to develop an individualized approach.
Therefore, a nurse must care for patients regardless of the stage of their treatment (Kaakinen et al., 2018). This theoretical approach draws attention to the patient’s basic needs and the nurse’s role in meeting them. The study of antibiotic treatment of underage patients will contribute to the expansion of knowledge about how medical providers can alleviate the course of the disease.
Definitions
This section presents several definitions of terms that are essential to understanding the topic under discussion. This will help us better understand it and realize the importance of the problem raised in this paper.
Antimicrobial treatment- therapy kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or protozoans (Antimicrobial therapy, 2023, para. 1).
Antibiotics- medications that treat diseases caused by microbes (Antimicrobial Resistance, n.d.).
Antibiotics can be divided into several categories based on their mechanism of action and spectrum of activity.
“Mortality rate- the ratio of the number of deaths in the year to the average total population of the year” (Mortality rate, 2021, para. 1).
Disease pathogens- organisms that can cause disease.
Limitations
Determining the limitations that may arise in research is critical. There are various limitations to conducting scientific work that need to be understood. Limitations should be addressed to minimize their impact.
The main limitation of the current research is the significant time resource required for a comprehensive assessment of the long-term impact of antimicrobial treatment on human health. It may take from five to twenty-five years to realize the actual consequences of taking this type of drug on well-being. This limitation will affect the data in this study and future developments, as scientists will need to take new findings into account.
However, analyzing and reviewing existing literature on this topic can help accelerate the research. The main criterion is the acquisition of the work closest to the topic, which investigates a similar research question. To maintain the study’s focus, it will be necessary to examine 9 to 12 articles.
Summary
Treatment of children with antibiotics is an effective and justified remedy, as many bacterial diseases cannot be treated otherwise. However, misuse and overuse of these drugs can lead to unwanted long-term effects that can significantly affect the well-being of the child. Therefore, this study focuses on finding ways to prevent antibiotic misuse and its consequences. In this context, nursing is of great importance in providing the necessary assistance to children and preventing them from experiencing negative consequences. This study, in accordance with nursing need theory, aims to help patients become self-reliant and achieve as much well-being as possible.
References
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Antimicrobial resistance. (n.d.). Cleveland clinic.
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Berman, J., & Krysan, D. J. (2020). Drug resistance and tolerance in fungi. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 18(6), 319-331.
Gligor, L., & Domnariu, C. D. (2020). Patient care approach using nursing theories-comparative analysis of Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory and Henderson’s Model. Acta Medica Transilvanica, 25(2), 11-14.
Kaakinen, J. R., Coehlo, D. P., Steele, R., & Robinson, M. (2018). Family healthcare nursing: Theory, practice, and research. FA Davis.
Lee, H., Yun, K. W., Lee, H. J., & Choi, E. H. (2018). Antimicrobial therapy of macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children. Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy, 16(1), 23-34.
McLaughlin, M. I., & Van Der Donk, W. A. (2020). The fellowship of the rings: macrocyclic antibiotic peptides reveal an anti-gram-negative target. Biochemistry, 59(4), 343-345.
Mortality rate. (2021). Insee.
Ogundare, E. O., Ajite, A. B., Adeniyi, A. T., Babatola, A. O., Taiwo, A. B., Fatunla, O. A., Airemionkhale, A., Odeyemi, O., Olatunya, O. & Oyelami, O. A. (2021). A ten-year review of neonatal tetanus cases managed at a tertiary health facility in a resource poor setting: The trend, management challenges and outcome. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 15(12), e0010010.
Williams, P.C., Isaacs, D., & Berkley, J. A. (2018). Antimicrobial resistance among children in sub- Saharan Africa. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 18(2), 33-44.