Antibiotici in età pediatrica: il cambiamento possibile, oltre i numeri

The 2024 AIFA Report highlights an increase in paediatric antibiotic prescribing (ages 0–13) in Italy, indeed it reached 42.4% prevalence and peaked at nearly 60% in children aged 2–5. Significant regional disparities and widespread overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics for routine infections persist, largely driven by diagnostic uncertainty and defensive medicine. Despite minor progress in prescribing indicators, current levels remain far from optimal targets. Translating guidelines into daily practice requires actionable measures such as localised target indicators, systematic audit and feedback, decision-support tools like dedicated apps and clearer communication with parents to support watchful waiting.