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Safety of Quinolones in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Li S, Chen Z, Huang L, Liu Z, Shi Y, Zhang M, Li H, Zeng L et al.

Paediatric drugs, 2022

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The results of animal experiments show that quinolone antibacterial drugs may permanently damage the soft tissues of the weight-bearing joints of young animals. Out of safety concerns, using quinolones in children has always been controversial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the risk of using quinolones in children and provide evidence for clinicians to support decision making.

DATA SOURCES: The MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (Ovid), CINAHL, CNKI, VIP, and WanFang Data databases were searched from inception to 8 September 2021.

STUDY SELECTION: All types of studies that reported the safety data of quinolones in children, including clinical trials and observational studies.

DATA EXTRACTION: Data extraction and cross-checking were completed by two independent reviewers using a pilot-tested standardized data extraction form.

RESULTS: The overall incidence rate of adverse drug events (ADEs) in children using systemic quinolones was 5.39% and the most common ADEs were gastrointestinal reactions (incidence rate, 2.02%). Quinolone-induced musculoskeletal ADEs in children were uncommon (0.76%). Meta-analysis results showed that the risk of musculoskeletal ADEs in children using quinolones was higher than children in the control group (51 studies; rate ratio [RR] 2.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.82-2.26; p < 0.001; I2 = 18.6%; moderate-quality evidence). However,…

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