Kroeger, Ruth C.2022-06-202022-06-20197413573985https://hdl.handle.net/10657/9485This study was an attempt to delineate potential minimal criteria for initiating antimicrobial therapy in pediatric patients. A review of the literature indicated that there were two major concepts regarding the administration of antimicrobials to pediatric patients. The first concept required culture testing prior to any chemotherapeutic measures, and the second concept relied primarily on clinical judgment. The literature review provided no established criteria for initiating antimicrobial therapy in pediatric patients. Patients whose age ranges from six months through 16 years are considered pediatric patients at the study hospital. This study was conducted in three phases. The first phase was to survey Staff general (family) practitioners and pediatricians at the study hospital regarding potential criteria for initiating antimicrobial therapy in pediatric patients. The second phase was to review the charts of discharged pediatric patients to attempt to determine potential criteria. The last phase was a comparison of the physician survey and the patient chart review in order to analyze and determine valid potential criteria for initiating antimicrobial therapy in pediatric patients. The results of this study seemed to indicate that, although physicians are aware of the complexities involved, they rely primarily on their clinical judgment when considering antimicrobial therapy in pediatric patients. The reasons for objecting to microbiological studies were time, patient cost, and questionable validity. The ideal procedure would seem to be for physicians to use their clinical judgment in initiating antimicrobial therapy and then consider clinical and laboratory evaluations for continuation of therapy. The laboratory tests to be evaluated should include complete and differential blood cell counts and culture and sensitivity testing.application/pdfenThis item is protected by copyright but is made available here under a claim of fair use (17 U.S.C. Section 107) for non-profit research and educational purposes. Users of this work assume the responsibility for determining copyright status prior to reusing, publishing, or reproducing this item for purposes other than what is allowed by fair use or other copyright exemptions. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires express permission of the copyright holder.Anti-infective agents.Pediatric pharmacology.Thesisreformatted digital