Keeping It Short and Simple: Duration of Antibiotic Therapy for Common Pediatric Bacterial Infections

“If you use penicillin, use enough.” – a previous warning from the inventor of penicillin, Alexander Fleming regarding antibiotics.1 In the early 1940s, penicillin resulted to favorable outcomes within 4 to 5 days, yet the belief that longer antibiotic use is necessary is still being practiced even in these modern days. The 7-day use of these medicines was based on the code by a Roman Emperor in AD 321 that there are 7 days in a week. Surprisingly, even in the era of evidence-based medicine, this belief and practice has remained to be the basis of antibiotic duration.2 The objective of this article is to review the current guidelines and updates on the duration of treatment of common bacterial infections in children.