Ocular Antibiotic Use in Young Danish Children from 2016 to 2023
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Background
Ocular antibiotics are frequently prescribed to treat eye infections among young children, despite most cases resolving spontaneously. Daycare policies, parental pressure, and misunderstanding of clinical guidelines may drive overuse. Monitoring prescription trends is essential to guide initiatives to reduce inappropriate use.
Objectives
To support an upcoming Danish Choosing Wisely recommendation, we examined trends in ocular antibiotic use among Danish children aged 0–5 years from 2016-2023.
Methods
This nationwide descriptive study used individual-level data from the Danish National Prescription Registry. Annual prevalence and incidence rates of antibiotic use were calculated stratified by age, sex, region, and municipality. Treatment episodes per child and prescriber type were also analyzed.
Results
During the study period, 568,801 prescriptions for ocular antibiotics were issued to 317,283 children aged 0–5 years. Use declined steadily from 2016-2019. A substantial reduction occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by a rebound. During 2023, 1-year-olds had the highest rates of use (386 per 1,000 boys; 321 per 1,000 girls), with 29% of children receiving at least one treatment episode. Considerable regional variation in prescribing existed with an incidence rate ratio of 1.45 between the South and Mid Regions of Denmark.
Conclusion
Ocular antibiotic use is rising after the COVID-19 pandemic, with the highest use among children aged 1-2 years and with significant regional variation.
