Table 1.

Characteristics of eight established reference sources in paediatrics and paediatric infectious diseases

Characteristics	DPF [9]	Neofax [11]	The Harriet Lane Handbook [12]	Red Book [13]	Long & Pickering [14]	Nelson’s [15]	PDH [16]	BNFC [17]
Recommendations for neonates available	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Recommendations for preterms available	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
Approach based on indication	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No
Approach based on antibiotic	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Detailed age and weight categorisation available	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Literature references mentioned	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
Mean difference from the aRDD (%)	15.8	23.1	24.6	15.3	46.4	23.3	25.2	17.4