BackgroundTo assess the relationship between any systemic antibiotic prescription within the first year of life and the presence of an ICD-9-CM diagnosis code for food allergy (FA).MethodsThis was a matched case–control study conducted using South Carolina Medicaid administrative data. FA cases born between 2007 and 2009 were matched to controls without FA on birth month/year, sex, race/ethnicity. Conditional logistic regression was used to model the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of FA diagnosis. All models were adjusted for presence of asthma, wheeze, or atopic dermatitis.ResultsA total of 1504 cases and 5995 controls were identified. Receipt of an antibiotic prescription within the initial 12 months of life was associated with FA diagnosis in unadjusted and adjusted models (aOR 1.21; 95 % CI 1.06–1.39). Compared to children with no antibiotic prescriptions, a linear increase in the aOR was seen with increasing antibiotic prescriptions. Children receiving five or more (aOR 1.64; 95 % CI 1.31–2.05) antibiotic prescriptions were significantly associated with FA diagnosis. The strongest association was noted among recipients of cephalosporin and sulfonamide antibiotics in both unadjusted and adjusted models.ConclusionsReceipt of antibiotic prescription in the first year of life is associated with FA diagnosis code in young children after controlling for common covariates. Multiple antibiotic prescriptions are more strongly associated with increases in the odds of FA diagnosis.

Providing health care for children is a unique specialty, and pediatric patients represent approximately 25% of the population. Education of pharmacy students on patients across the lifespan is required by current Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education standards and outcomes; thus, it is essential that pharmacy students gain a proficiency in caring for children. A collaborative panel of pediatric faculty members from schools and colleges of pharmacy was established to review the current literature regarding pediatric education in Doctor of Pharmacy curricula and establish updated recommendations for the provision of pediatric pharmacy education. This statement outlines five recommendations supporting inclusion of pediatric content and skills in Doctor of Pharmacy curricula.

A potential association between the administration of caffeine and the development of medical or surgical necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants exists. Further investigation of dose-dependent effects and loading doses is warranted.

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OBJECTIVE No studies, to our knowledge, have determined the relationship between symptom resolution and timing of antimicrobial discontinuation in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Our study seeks to determine the period to NEC resolution by using severity-guided management, based on surrogate markers used in the diagnosis of NEC. METHODS This retrospective, observational review included patients in our NICU with NEC from June 1, 2012, to June 1, 2018. Patients were excluded for surgical NEC, a positive blood culture or transfer from an outside institution at the time of NEC, presence of a peritoneal drain, or death prior to NEC resolution. The primary outcome was time to resolution of NEC, measured by return to baseline of surrogate markers used in the diagnosis of NEC. RESULTS The median times to resolution in days, based on our institution's NEC severity group, were as follows: mild 3 (range, 1–4); moderate 4 (range, 1–17); severe 9 (range, 5–21). No difference in NEC recurrence was found based on antibiotic duration (OR 0.803; 95% CI, 0.142–4.225). CONCLUSIONS Time to resolution of NEC differs by severity group, suggesting a need for different treatment durations. Recurrence of NEC did not differ between groups, suggesting that shorter antibiotic durations do not lead to an increased incidence of NEC recurrence. Further exploration of the optimal antimicrobial treatment duration for NEC is warranted.