["Antibiotics only when necessary" campaign in the Alpes-Maritimes district: no negative impact on invasive infections in children in the community 1998-2003].

Objectives: A multidisciplinary group (for the study and prevention of infections in children, GEPIE) conducted a local public health campaign to improve antibiotic prescribing in pediatric outpatient care in the Alpes-Maritimes district. This campaign included peer-conducted academic-detailing (educational outreach) visits in 2000 and 2003. Practitioners often report during both focus groups and the GEPIE visits that they prescribe antibiotics because of a fear of subsequent complications.