Operational Experience With Non-routine Use of Antibiotics in the Treatment of Severe Uncomplicated Acute Malnutrition in Children

Upon admission, all children will receive nutritional treatment and standard medical care in accordance with the nutritional guidelines of the national protocol, with the exception of the routine distribution of antibiotics. Antibiotics will be provided at admission and during follow-up only if clinically justified. The results of the program (ie, nutritional recovery, hospitalization, death and abandonment) will be monitored in all children aged 6 to 59 months admitted for outpatient therapy in 2 outpatient treatment sites in the Madarounfa health district in Niger.

To ensure that the children included in the study receive appropriate care, the study will ask the children's leaders to return to the clinic for medical surveillance in the event of a clinical complication. Program staff will facilitate appropriate management, including prescription of antibiotics if clinically justified, and transfer to hospital of all children in need of close supervision and / or comprehensive medical management.