To assess the impact of intervention on antibiotic misuse in children, parents' and pediatricians' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) concerning antibiotic use were evaluated pre-and postintervention in Larnaca (Cyprus) and Limassol (Cyprus). Concurrently, pediatricians documented upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) visits and pharmacists provided antibiotic consumption data. Intervention was implemented for parents and pediatricians residing in Larnaca. The consumption/URTI incidence index was significantly reduced in Larnaca but not in Limassol. Parental responses to a KAP questionnaire remained unchanged; therefore, antibiotic consumption reduction is attributable to pediatricians' education.

Pertussis is a disease of substantial public health importance that still lacks an efficient surveillance system. It has been a notifiable disease in Cyprus since 1930, and has had an incidence rate of 1 per 100,000 persons during the last 10 years. In 2001, the Greece-Cyprus Paediatric Surveillance Unit (GCPSU) was established with the aim of active surveillance for rare paediatric diseases, including weekly data reporting, zero reporting, and obligatory laboratory tests. From November 2002, pertussis has been included in the active surveillance scheme of GCPSU, resulting in a very early detection of an outbreak in June 2003 that led to immediate and successful action.