Adherence Issues Related to the Selection of Antistaphylococcal or Antifungal Antibiotic Suspensions for Children

Abstract

To evaluate the palatability and cost as variables in the selection of antimicrobial suspensions to treat staphylococcal infections and oral thrush, 31 physicians and health care personnel randomly sampled 7 antistaphylococcal antibiotics and 2 antifungal agents, evaluating them in categories of appearance, smell, texture, taste, and aftertaste. Final scoring was then adjusted for cost. Overall taste (palatability) ranking of antistaphylococcal antibiotics, highest to lowest, was as follows: rifampin, cephalexin, EES, TMP/SMX, clindamycin with FLAVORx, linezolid, and clindamycin without FLAVORx. Fluconazole was superior to nystatin. Cost was considered a major factor if the medication was more than $60.00 for treatment of a hypothetical 2-year-old, 13-kg child.