[Proton pump inhibitors in pediatrics: Review of the prescriptions' relevance for hospitalised children in a university hospital]

Introduction: Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) are a pharmacological class designed to reduce the acidity of gastric secretions. They are prescribed for 11 % of the children in our institution.

Aims: To assess the relevance of PPI prescriptions in pediatrics.

Material and method: A clinical audit according to the methodology proposed by the High Authority of Health was carried out between August 27 and August 31, 2018 in the pediatric departments of our institution. The main judgement criteria were the indication of the PPI. The main guidelines are the recommendations of the European society of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition.

Results: Thirty patients were included. The average age was 8.6 years. The indication was compliant in 19 patients. The non-compliant indications were: two ulcer risk preventions related to the prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), one endoscopic biopsy, four ulcer risk preventions related to corticosteroid therapy, one hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and three mucositis.

Discussion: The sample of patients included in the study was representative of the pediatric population with PPIs in our institution. The non-conformities identified could be justified in some cases. Only one study reported a compliance rate for PPI indications in pediatrics in the literature. This rate, in the order of 34 %, was much lower than that found in our institution (P<0.01).

Conclusion: The respect of the latest recommendations for the prescription of PPIs is quite good. A usage sheet will be diffused to improve the practices.