Anita K M Zaidi.
Antibiotic-resistant Respiratory Pathogens in Developing Countries.
Infect Dis J Jan ;12(4):112-4.

Widespread antimicrobial resistance amongst respiratory pathogens to commonly used, affordable antibiotics has made the treatment of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in developing countries very difficult. ARI are the leading cause of childhood deaths in most developing countries. Prevention of deaths due to ARI in resource constrained environments has relied on World Health Organization (WHO) recommended algorithms for recognition and management of childhood pneumonia in the community and in health care facility settings. The algorithms emphasize early case recognition of severe ARI by community health workers or paramedics based on the presence or absence of certain signs and symptoms, outpatient management with oral cotrimoxazole or amoxicillin for uncomplicated pneumonia, and hospital referral for children with more severe disease. Strong evidence exists to show that WHO`s case-management approach has been successful in reducing ARI-related childhood mortality in developing countries over the last two decades. However, the emergence of significant levels of cotrimoxazole and amoxicillin resistance among common respiratory pathogens in many countries is very troubling and may indicate the need to find alternative and/or additional solutions to preventing severe ARI disease and deaths in developing countries. This is a review article.

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