Table 2.
Adjusted weight-for-age and length-for-age z-score differences associated with class-specific antibiotic use in the first 6 months of life among 1954 children in the MAL-ED birth cohort.
| Antibiotic class exposure in first 6 months of life | Number exposed (%) (N=1954†) | Adjusted* WAZ difference (95% CI) | Number exposed (%) (N=1689†) | Adjusted* LAZ difference (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metronidazole | ||||
| 1 course | 170 (8.7) | 0.14 (-0.01, 0.29) | 109 (6.5) | 0.00 (-0.15, 0.16) |
| 2+ courses | 106 (5.4) | 0.24 (0.04, 0.43) | 11 (0.7) | 0.02 (-0.35, 0.40) |
| Macrolides | ||||
| 1 course | 258 (13.2) | 0.09 (-0.03, 0.21) | 206 (12.2) | 0.07 (-0.05, 0.18) |
| 2+ courses | 114 (5.8) | 0.23 (0.05, 0.42) | 87 (5.2) | -0.00 (-0.20, 0.19) |
| Cephalosporins | ||||
| 1 course | 244 (12.5) | 0.03 (-0.09, 0.16) | 182 (10.8) | 0.02 (-0.11, 0.14) |
| 2+ courses | 249 (12.7) | 0.19 (0.04, 0.35) | 106 (6.3) | 0.19 (0.01, 0.37) |
| Penicillins | ||||
| 1 course | 450 (23.0) | 0.09 (-0.02, 0.19) | 382 (22.6) | -0.04 (-0.13, 0.06) |
| 2+ courses | 457 (23.4) | 0.07 (-0.04, 0.18) | 373 (22.1) | -0.00 (-0.11, 0.10) |
| Fluoroquinolones (any) | 66 (3.4) | 0.08 (-0.14, 0.30) | 57 (3.4) | 0.05 (-0.16, 0.27) |
| Sulfonamides (any) | 228 (11.7) | 0.03 (-0.09, 0.15) | 155 (9.2) | -0.02 (-0.14, 0.11) |
Adjusted for other antibiotic classes included in the table, site, child sex, enrollment WAZ, WAMI score, crowding (people/room in household), maternal height, maternal education, and characteristics of the child’s first 6 months of life: percent days exclusively breastfed, number of diarrhea episodes, days with fever, vomiting, and respiratory illness, and presence of ALRI, bloody stools, and hospitalization. LAZ difference is also adjusted for enrollment LAZ
Children who were followed in the MAL-ED birth cohort until at least 6 months of age with subsequent anthropometry. LAZ difference estimates exclude Pakistan.
WAZ, weight-for-age z-score. LAZ, length-for-age z-score