Temporal trends in vaccination and antibiotic use among young children in the United States, 2000-2019.

OBJECTIVE

Routine immunization programs may reduce antibiotic use, but few studies have comprehensively examined their impact on antibiotic utilization. We aimed to explore temporal trends in vaccination and antibiotic use among young children in the United States.

DESIGN

Ecological study using the Merative® MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters database.

METHODS

We analyzed claims data on pediatric vaccine uptake (pneumococcal conjugate, Haemophilus influenzae type b, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, and influenza) and antibiotic prescriptions and antibiotic-treated respiratory tract infections among US children <5 years during 2000-2019. Vaccination status was assessed annually, and children were categorized based on receipt of all four vaccines, 1-3 vaccines, or no vaccines. Antibiotic prescriptions were classified by spectrum and drug class. Respiratory infections included otitis media, pharyngitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, and viral infections.

RESULTS

Among 6.7 million children, vaccine uptake increased from 32.5% receiving all four vaccines in 2004 to 66.8% in 2019. During this period, overall antibiotic prescriptions decreased from 1.89 to 1.01 per person-year, with the greatest reductions in macrolides (73.3%) and broad-spectrum antibiotics (57.0%). Antibiotic-treated respiratory tract infections declined from 2.43 to 1.61 episodes per person-year, with the largest decreases in sinusitis (64.7%) and pharyngitis (39.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest a temporal association between routine childhood immunization uptake and reduced antibiotic utilization. Although immunization programs are primarily aimed at protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases, their potential role in complementing antimicrobial stewardship efforts and other factors influencing antibiotic reduction warrants further investigation through more rigorous study designs.