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Chua KP, Fischer MA, Rahman M, Linder JA. Changes in the Appropriateness of US Outpatient Antibiotic Prescribing After the COVID-19 Outbreak: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis of 2016-2021 Data. Clin Infect Dis 2024; 79:312-320. [PMID: 38648159 PMCID: PMC11327783 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciae135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND No national study has evaluated changes in the appropriateness of US outpatient antibiotic prescribing across all conditions and age groups after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in March 2020. METHODS This was an interrupted time series analysis of Optum's de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart Database, a national commercial and Medicare Advantage claims database. Analyses included prescriptions for antibiotics dispensed to children and adults enrolled during each month during 2017-2021. For each prescription, we applied our previously developed antibiotic appropriateness classification scheme to International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis codes on medical claims occurring on or during the 3 days prior to dispensing. Outcomes included the monthly proportion of antibiotic prescriptions that were inappropriate and the monthly proportion of enrollees with ≥1 inappropriate prescription. Using segmented regression models, we assessed for level and slope changes in outcomes in March 2020. RESULTS Analyses included 37 566 581 enrollees, of whom 19 154 059 (51.0%) were female. The proportion of enrollees with ≥1 inappropriate prescription decreased in March 2020 (level decrease: -0.80 percentage points [95% confidence interval {CI}, -1.09% to -.51%]) and subsequently increased (slope increase: 0.02 percentage points per month [95% CI, .01%-.03%]), partly because overall antibiotic dispensing rebounded and partly because the proportion of antibiotic prescriptions that were inappropriate increased (slope increase: 0.11 percentage points per month [95% CI, .04%-.18%]). In December 2021, the proportion of enrollees with ≥1 inappropriate prescription equaled the corresponding proportion in December 2019. CONCLUSIONS Despite an initial decline, the proportion of enrollees exposed to inappropriate antibiotics returned to baseline levels by December 2021. Findings underscore the continued importance of outpatient antibiotic stewardship initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kao-Ping Chua
- Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Michael A Fischer
- Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Moshiur Rahman
- Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Linder
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
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2
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Thompson EJ, Wood CT, Hornik CP. Pediatric Pharmacology for the Primary Care Provider: Advances and Limitations. Pediatrics 2024; 154:e2023064158. [PMID: 38841764 PMCID: PMC11211696 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2023-064158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite >1 in 5 children taking prescription drugs in the United States, off-label drug use is common. To increase the study of drugs in children, regulatory bodies have enacted legislation to incentivize and require pediatric drug studies. As a result of this legislation, novel trial approaches, and an increase in personnel with pediatric expertise, there have been numerous advancements in pediatric drug development. With this review, we aim to highlight developments in pediatric pharmacology over the past 6 years for the most common disease processes that may be treated pharmacologically by the pediatric primary care provider. Using information extracted from label changes between 2018 and 2023, the published literature, and Clinicaltrials.gov, we discuss advances across multiple therapeutic areas relevant to the pediatric primary care provider, including asthma, obesity and related disorders, mental health disorders, infections, and dermatologic conditions. We highlight instances in which new drugs have been developed on the basis of a deeper mechanistic understanding of illness and instances in which labels have been expanded in older drugs on the basis of newly available data. We then consider additional factors that affect pediatric drug use, including cost and nonpharmacologic therapies. Although there is work to be done, efforts focused on pediatric-specific drug development will increase the availability of evidence-based, labeled guidance for commonly prescribed drugs and improve outcomes through the safe and effective use of drugs in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth J. Thompson
- Duke University Hospital, Durham, North Carolina
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, North Carolina
| | | | - Christoph P. Hornik
- Duke University Hospital, Durham, North Carolina
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, North Carolina
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Burvenich R, De Boodt S, Lowie L, Janssens A, Beerten SG, Vaes B, Toelen J, Verbakel JY. Temporal trends in antibiotic prescribing and serious and nonserious infections in children presenting to general practice: a registry-based longitudinal cohort study of 162 507 individuals. J Antimicrob Chemother 2024; 79:1397-1406. [PMID: 38714502 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkae117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is crucial to understand the trends in paediatric antibiotic prescribing and serious and nonserious infections to improve antibiotic prescribing practices for children in ambulatory care. OBJECTIVES Assessing trends in paediatric antibiotic prescribing and infection incidence in general practice from 2002 to 2022. METHODS In this retrospective cohort study using INTEGO network data from 162 507 patients in Flanders (Belgium), we calculated antibiotic prescribing rates and proportions alongside incidence rates of serious and nonserious infections, stratified by age (0-1, 2-6, 7-12 years) and municipality. We performed autoregressive moving average time-series analyses and seasonality analyses. RESULTS From 2002 to 2022, antibiotic prescribing rate decreased significantly: 584/1000 person-years (PY) (95% CI 571-597) to 484/1000PY (95% CI 478-491); so did antibiotic overall prescribing proportion: 46.3% (95% CI 45.1-47.6) to 23.3% (95% CI 22.9-23.7) (59.3% amoxicillin and 17.8% broad spectrum). Prescribing proportions dropped significantly for nonserious (45.6% to 20.9%) and increased for serious infections (64.1% to 69.8%). Proportions significantly dropped for acute suppurative otitis media (74.7% to 64.1%), upper respiratory tract infections (44.9% to 16.6%), bronchitis/bronchiolitis (73.6% to 44.1%) and acute tonsillopharyngitis (59.5% to 21.7%), while significantly increasing for pneumonia (65.2% to 80.2%). Nonserious and serious infection incidence rates increased from 785/1000PY and 34.2/1000PY to 1223/1000PY and 64.1/1000PY, respectively. Blood and CRP testing proportions increased significantly. CONCLUSIONS Antibiotic prescribing in general practice for children declined from 2002 to 2022. Further targeted antibiotic stewardship initiatives are needed to reduce the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and antibiotic prescribing for conditions such as otitis media and bronchitis/bronchiolitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Burvenich
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leuven Unit for Health and Technology Assessment Research (LUHTAR), KU Leuven, 7 Kapucijnenvoer, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Academic Centre for General Practice, KU Leuven, 7 Kapucijnenvoer, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Healthcare, Ghent University, 10 Corneel Heymanslaan, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia
| | - Sien De Boodt
- Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, 49 Herestraat, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Lien Lowie
- Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, 49 Herestraat, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Arne Janssens
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Academic Centre for General Practice, KU Leuven, 7 Kapucijnenvoer, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Simon Gabriël Beerten
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Academic Centre for General Practice, KU Leuven, 7 Kapucijnenvoer, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Bert Vaes
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Academic Centre for General Practice, KU Leuven, 7 Kapucijnenvoer, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Jaan Toelen
- Woman and Child, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Yvan Verbakel
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leuven Unit for Health and Technology Assessment Research (LUHTAR), KU Leuven, 7 Kapucijnenvoer, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Academic Centre for General Practice, KU Leuven, 7 Kapucijnenvoer, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, NIHR Community Healthcare Medtech and IVD Cooperative, University of Oxford, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
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4
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Fakih H, Abdulsater N, El Hajj Hussein Z. Epidemiology of Pediatric Respiratory Tract Infections During the COVID-19 Era: A Retrospective Multicentric Study of Hospitalized Children in Lebanon Between October 2018 and March 2021. Cureus 2024; 16:e61669. [PMID: 38966443 PMCID: PMC11223744 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The identification of SARS-CoV-2 in December 2019 and its subsequent designation as the causative agent of COVID-19 marked the beginning of an unprecedented global health crisis. As the virus spread rapidly across continents, its impact on various demographic groups, including children, became a subject of intense research. While children were initially thought to be less susceptible to severe COVID-19 illness compared to adults, concerns emerged regarding their vulnerability to other respiratory infections amidst the pandemic. Understanding the epidemiological trends of pediatric respiratory tract infections (RTIs) during the COVID-19 era is crucial for informing public health strategies and clinical management protocols. This study aimed to compare the prevalence and characteristics of pediatric RTIs before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon. Methodology A retrospective, observational study was conducted by reviewing medical records of children admitted to three tertiary care hospitals in Lebanon: Sheikh Ragheb Harb University Hospital, Al Sahel General University Hospital, and Rafik Al-Hariri University Hospital. Data were collected from October 2018 to March 2021, encompassing both the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 eras. A standardized data collection sheet was utilized to gather information on demographic characteristics, clinical presentations, duration of hospitalization, and antibiotic usage. Results Our analysis revealed significant shifts in the epidemiology of pediatric RTIs between the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 eras. There was a marked decline in the proportion of school-age children hospitalized with RTIs during the pandemic period. However, the overall percentage of Lebanese hospitalized children across different age groups increased significantly during the COVID-19 era. Furthermore, the prevalence of specific RTIs, such as pharyngitis, increased from 1.1% in the pre-COVID-19 to 5.5% during the COVID-19 period (p = 0.016), and the prevalence of bronchiolitis increased from 26.7% to 50.9% (p < 0.001) during the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 periods, respectively. This notable rise during the pandemic suggested potential changes in circulating pathogens or diagnostic practices. Importantly, the median length of hospital stays for pediatric RTIs decreased during the COVID-19 era compared to the pre-pandemic period, indicating possible improvements in clinical management or healthcare resource utilization. Analysis of antibiotic usage revealed ceftriaxone as the most frequently prescribed antibiotic in both periods, highlighting its continued relevance in the management of pediatric RTIs. Conclusions This study highlights significant epidemiological shifts in pediatric RTIs during the COVID-19 era in Lebanon. These findings underscore the importance of ongoing surveillance and research to adapt public health interventions and clinical practices to evolving infectious disease dynamics. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the underlying factors driving these changes and optimize strategies for the prevention and management of pediatric RTIs in the context of the ongoing pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadi Fakih
- Pediatrics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, LBN
- Pediatrics, Sheikh Ragheb Harb University Hospital, Toul, LBN
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Rankin DA, Katz SE, Amarin JZ, Hayek H, Stewart LS, Slaughter JC, Deppen S, Yanis A, Romero YH, Chappell JD, Khankari NK, Halasa NB. Provider-ordered viral testing and antibiotic administration practices among children with acute respiratory infections across healthcare settings in Nashville, Tennessee. ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP & HEALTHCARE EPIDEMIOLOGY : ASHE 2024; 4:e29. [PMID: 38500720 PMCID: PMC10945942 DOI: 10.1017/ash.2024.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Objective Evaluate the association between provider-ordered viral testing and antibiotic treatment practices among children discharged from an ED or hospitalized with an acute respiratory infection (ARI). Design Active, prospective ARI surveillance study from November 2017 to February 2020. Setting Pediatric hospital and emergency department in Nashville, Tennessee. Participants Children 30 days to 17 years old seeking medical care for fever and/or respiratory symptoms. Methods Antibiotics prescribed during the child's ED visit or administered during hospitalization were categorized into (1) None administered; (2) Narrow-spectrum; and (3) Broad-spectrum. Setting-specific models were built using unconditional polytomous logistic regression with robust sandwich estimators to estimate the adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals between provider-ordered viral testing (ie, tested versus not tested) and viral test result (ie, positive test versus not tested and negative test versus not tested) and three-level antibiotic administration. Results 4,107 children were enrolled and tested, of which 2,616 (64%) were seen in the ED and 1,491 (36%) were hospitalized. In the ED, children who received a provider-ordered viral test had 25% decreased odds (aOR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.54, 0.98) of receiving a narrow-spectrum antibiotic during their visit than those without testing. In the inpatient setting, children with a negative provider-ordered viral test had 57% increased odds (aOR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.01, 2.44) of being administered a broad-spectrum antibiotic compared to children without testing. Conclusions In our study, the impact of provider-ordered viral testing on antibiotic practices differed by setting. Additional studies evaluating the influence of viral testing on antibiotic stewardship and antibiotic prescribing practices are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle A. Rankin
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Epidemiology PhD Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Sophie E. Katz
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Justin Z. Amarin
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Haya Hayek
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Laura S. Stewart
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - James C. Slaughter
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Stephen Deppen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Division of Epidemiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ahmad Yanis
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | | | - James D. Chappell
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Nikhil K. Khankari
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Natasha B. Halasa
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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6
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Wittman SR, Hoberman A, Mehrotra A, Sabik LM, Yabes JG, Ray KN. Antibiotic Receipt for Pediatric Telemedicine Visits With Primary Care vs Direct-to-Consumer Vendors. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e242359. [PMID: 38483387 PMCID: PMC10940962 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.2359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Prior research found that pediatric direct-to-consumer (DTC) telemedicine visits are associated with more antibiotic prescribing than in-person primary care visits. It is unclear whether this difference is associated with modality of care (telemedicine vs in-person) or with the context of telemedicine care (primary care vs not primary care). Objective To compare antibiotic management during telemedicine visits with primary care practitioners (PCPs) vs commercial direct-to-consumer (DTC) telemedicine companies for pediatric acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs). Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective, cross-sectional study of visits for ARTIs by commercially insured children 17 years of age or younger analyzed deidentified medical and pharmacy claims in OptumLabs Data Warehouse data, a national sample of commercial enrollees, between January 1 and December 31, 2022. Exposure Setting of telemedicine visit as PCP vs DTC. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was percentage of visits with antibiotic receipt. Secondary outcomes were the percentages of visits with diagnoses for which prescription of an antibiotic was potentially appropriate, guideline-concordant antibiotic management, and follow-up ARTI visits within the ensuing 1 to 2 days and 3 to 14 days. The ARTI telemedicine visits with PCP vs DTC telemedicine companies were matched on child demographic characteristics. Generalized estimated equation log-binomial regression models were used to compute marginal outcomes. Results In total, data from 27 686 children (mean [SD] age, 8.9 [5.0] years; 13 893 [50.2%] male) were included in this study. There were 14 202 PCP telemedicine index visits matched to 14 627 DTC telemedicine index visits. The percentage of visits involving receipt of an antibiotic was lower for PCP (28.9% [95% CI, 28.1%-29.7%]) than for DTC (37.2% [95% CI, 36.0%-38.5%]) telemedicine visits. Additionally, fewer PCP telemedicine visits involved receipt of a diagnosis in which the use of antibiotics may be appropriate (19.0% [95% CI, 18.4%-19.7%] vs 28.4% [95% CI, 27.3%-29.6%]), but no differences were observed in receipt of nonguideline-concordant antibiotic management based on a given diagnosis between PCP (20.2% [95% CI, 19.5%-20.9%]) and DTC (20.1% [95% CI, 19.1%-21.0%]) telemedicine visits. Fewer PCP telemedicine visits involved a follow-up visit within the ensuing 1 to 2 days (5.0% [95% CI, 4.7%-5.4%] vs 8.0% [95% CI, 7.3%-8.7%]) and 3 to 14 days (8.2% [95% CI, 7.8%-8.7%] vs 9.6% [95% CI, 8.8%-10.3%]). Conclusions and Relevance Compared with virtual-only DTC telemedicine companies, telemedicine integrated within primary care was associated with lower rates of antibiotic receipt and follow-up care. Supporting use of telemedicine integrated within pediatric primary care may be one strategy to reduce antibiotic receipt through telemedicine visits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel R. Wittman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Alejandro Hoberman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Ateev Mehrotra
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Lindsay M. Sabik
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Jonathan G. Yabes
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Kristin N. Ray
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Shmueli M, Lendner I, Ben-Shimol S. Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the pediatric infectious disease landscape. Eur J Pediatr 2024; 183:1001-1009. [PMID: 37726566 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-023-05210-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
This narrative review aims to present an overview of the COVID-19 pandemic's effects on the landscape of pediatric infectious diseases. While COVID-19 generally results in mild symptoms and a favorable prognosis in children, the pandemic brought forth significant consequences. These included persistent symptoms among infected children ("long COVID"), a profound transformation in healthcare utilization (notably through the widespread adoption of telemedicine), and the implementation of optimization strategies within healthcare settings. Furthermore, the pandemic resulted in alterations in the circulation patterns of respiratory pathogens, including influenza, RSV, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. The possible reasons for those changes are discussed in this review. COVID-19 effect was not limited to respiratory infectious diseases, as other diseases, including urinary tract and gastrointestinal infections, have displayed decreased transmission rates, likely attributable to heightened hygiene measures and shifts in care-seeking behaviors. Finally, the disruption of routine childhood vaccination programs has resulted in reduced immunization coverage and an upsurge in vaccine hesitancy. In addition, the pandemic was associated with issues of antibiotic misuse and over-prescription. Conclusion: In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has left a profound and multifaceted impact on the landscape of pediatric infectious diseases, ranging from the emergence of "long COVID" in children to significant changes in healthcare delivery, altered circulation patterns of various pathogens, and concerning disruptions in vaccination programs and antibiotic usage. What is Known: • COVID-19 usually presents with mild symptoms in children, although severe and late manifestations are possible. • The pandemic resulted in a dramatically increased use of health care services, as well as alterations in the circulation patterns of respiratory pathogens, decreased rates of other, non-respiratory, infections, disruption of routine childhood vaccination programs, and antibiotic misuse. What is New: • Possible strategies to tackle future outbreaks are presented, including changes in health care services utilization, implementation of updated vaccine programs and antibiotic stewardship protocols. • The decline in RSV and influenza circulation during COVID-19 was probably not primarily related to NPI measures, and rather related to other, non-NPI measures implementation, including specific pathogen-host interactions on the level of the biological niche (the nasopharynx).
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Affiliation(s)
- Moshe Shmueli
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Idan Lendner
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
- Pediatric Department B, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Shalom Ben-Shimol
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
- Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel.
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Picca M, Carrozzo R, Milani GP, Corsello A, Macchi M, Buzzetti R, Marchisio P, Mameli C. Leading reasons for antibiotic prescriptions in pediatric respiratory infections: influence of fever in a primary care setting. Ital J Pediatr 2023; 49:131. [PMID: 37775784 PMCID: PMC10541709 DOI: 10.1186/s13052-023-01533-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antibiotic overuse in children is a significant public health concern, as it can lead to the emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Although respiratory infections account for most antibiotic prescriptions in children, many of these infections are viral and do not require antibiotics. In this study, we aimed to investigate the use of antibiotics in children with respiratory infections in a primary care setting and to explore the possible role of fever on antibiotic prescription. METHODS We conducted a prospective observational study that evaluated preschool children aged 0-5 years who were assessed by their primary care pediatricians for respiratory infectious diseases between October 2019 and March 2021. The study involved 69 public primary care pediatricians and a total of 678 pediatric episodes for respiratory infections. RESULTS Amoxicillin/clavulanate was the most frequently prescribed drug. Bronchitis accounted for most of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions (73%). Furthermore, the presence of fever was associated with a ~ 300% increase in the likelihood of prescribing antibiotics for respiratory infections that do not typically require antibiotics. CONCLUSION Our findings emphasize the need for adherence to international guidelines and recommendations in the primary care of children to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and prevent the development of antibiotic resistance. This study also underscores the potential relevance of new studies to evaluate antibiotic prescription attitudes in other clinical settings and geographical areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Picca
- Italian Primary Care Paediatrics Society (SICuPP), Lombardy, Italy
| | - Romeo Carrozzo
- Italian Primary Care Paediatrics Society (SICuPP), Lombardy, Italy
| | - Gregorio Paolo Milani
- Department of Health Science and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio Corsello
- Department of Health Science and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
- University of Milan, Via della Commenda 9, Milan, 20122, Italy.
| | - Marina Macchi
- Department of Health Science and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Paola Marchisio
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- University of Milan, Via della Commenda 9, Milan, 20122, Italy
| | - Chiara Mameli
- Department of Pediatrics, Vittore Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Science "L. Sacco", University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Zhong X, Pate A, Yang YT, Fahmi A, Ashcroft DM, Goldacre B, MacKenna B, Mehrkar A, Bacon SCJ, Massey J, Fisher L, Inglesby P, Hand K, van Staa T, Palin V. Impact of COVID-19 on broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing for common infections in primary care in England: a time-series analyses using OpenSAFELY and effects of predictors including deprivation. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. EUROPE 2023; 30:100653. [PMID: 37363797 PMCID: PMC10186397 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the healthcare systems, adding extra pressure to reduce antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate changes in antibiotic prescription patterns after COVID-19 started. Methods With the approval of NHS England, we used the OpenSAFELY platform to access the TPP SystmOne electronic health record (EHR) system in primary care and selected patients prescribed antibiotics from 2019 to 2021. To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing, we evaluated prescribing rates and its predictors and used interrupted time series analysis by fitting binomial logistic regression models. Findings Over 32 million antibiotic prescriptions were extracted over the study period; 8.7% were broad-spectrum. The study showed increases in broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing (odds ratio [OR] 1.37; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.36-1.38) as an immediate impact of the pandemic, followed by a gradual recovery with a 1.1-1.2% decrease in odds of broad-spectrum prescription per month. The same pattern was found within subgroups defined by age, sex, region, ethnicity, and socioeconomic deprivation quintiles. More deprived patients were more likely to receive broad-spectrum antibiotics, which differences remained stable over time. The most significant increase in broad-spectrum prescribing was observed for lower respiratory tract infection (OR 2.33; 95% CI 2.1-2.50) and otitis media (OR 1.96; 95% CI 1.80-2.13). Interpretation An immediate reduction in antibiotic prescribing and an increase in the proportion of broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing in primary care was observed. The trends recovered to pre-pandemic levels, but the consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic on AMR needs further investigation. Funding This work was supported by Health Data Research UK and by National Institute for Health Research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomin Zhong
- Centre for Health Informatics, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, the University of Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Alexander Pate
- Centre for Health Informatics, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, the University of Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Ya-Ting Yang
- Centre for Health Informatics, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, the University of Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Ali Fahmi
- Centre for Health Informatics, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, the University of Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Darren M. Ashcroft
- Centre for Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
- NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Ben Goldacre
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Brian MacKenna
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
- NHS England, Wellington House, Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UG, UK
| | - Amir Mehrkar
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Sebastian CJ. Bacon
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Jon Massey
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Louis Fisher
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Peter Inglesby
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - the OpenSAFELY collaborative
- Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Kieran Hand
- Pharmacy Department, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, Portsmouth, UK
- NHS England, Wellington House, Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UG, UK
| | - Tjeerd van Staa
- Centre for Health Informatics, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, the University of Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Victoria Palin
- Centre for Health Informatics, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, the University of Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
- Maternal and Fetal Research Centre, Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, the University of Manchester, St Marys Hospital, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
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10
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Monzani A, Minelli G, Rabbone I. Reduced burden of antibiotic prescription in an italian pediatric primary care clinic during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic: a shot in the arm for antimicrobial resistance? Ital J Pediatr 2023; 49:40. [PMID: 36978101 PMCID: PMC10049892 DOI: 10.1186/s13052-023-01444-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Rates of antibiotic-resistant bacteria have increased worldwide over recent years, but the Italian Institute of Health reported a disruption to this trend in 2021 compared with 2020. Children are often recipients of unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions, especially for respiratory tract infections (RTIs). During the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, common RTIs substantially decreased, so it is conceivable that antibiotic prescriptions also reduced during this time. To test this hypothesis, we retrospectively collected data on all visits to a pediatric primary care clinic in Northern Italy from February 20, 2020 to June 2, 2020 and compared data with the same period in 2019. We evaluated the antibiotic prescription rate according to the diagnosis at discharge. While the total number of visits significantly decreased (1335 in 2020 vs. 4899 in 2019), there was only a slight reduction in the antibiotic prescription rate (1039 in 2019, 21.2%, vs. 272 in 2020, 20.4%). However, this corresponded to a 73.8% decrease in the total number of antibiotic prescriptions, with antibiotics for RTI accounting for 69% of the total reduction. It is possible that, at the larger scale, reduced antibiotic prescription in pediatrics during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a slight reduction in antimicrobial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Monzani
- Division of Paediatrics, Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, via Solaroli 17, Novara, 28100, Italy.
| | - Giulia Minelli
- Division of Paediatrics, Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, via Solaroli 17, Novara, 28100, Italy
| | - Ivana Rabbone
- Division of Paediatrics, Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, via Solaroli 17, Novara, 28100, Italy
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11
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Wittman SR, Martin JM, Mehrotra A, Ray KN. Antibiotic Receipt During Outpatient Visits for COVID-19 in the US, From 2020 to 2022. JAMA HEALTH FORUM 2023; 4:e225429. [PMID: 36800196 PMCID: PMC9938423 DOI: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2022.5429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
This cross-sectional study examines prescribed and filled antibiotics for outpatient COVID-19 treatment among children, adolescents, and adults with commercial insurance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel R. Wittman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Judith M. Martin
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Ateev Mehrotra
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kristin N. Ray
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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12
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Kitagawa D, Kitano T, Furumori M, Suzuki S, Shintani Y, Nishikawa H, Suzuki R, Yamamoto N, Onaka M, Nishiyama A, Kasamatsu T, Shiraishi N, Suzuki Y, Nakano A, Nakano R, Yano H, Maeda K, Yoshida S, Nakamura F. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and multiplex polymerase chain reaction test on outpatient antibiotic prescriptions for pediatric respiratory infection. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0278932. [PMID: 36595501 PMCID: PMC9810151 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic on outpatient antibiotic prescriptions for pediatric respiratory infections at an acute care hospital in Japan in order to direct future pediatric outpatient antibiotic stewardship. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the FilmArray Respiratory Panel (RP) on outpatient antibiotic prescriptions was assessed from January 2019 to December 2021 using an interrupted time series analysis of children <20 years. The overall antimicrobial prescription rate decreased from 38.7% to 22.4% from the pre-pandemic period to the pandemic. The pandemic (relative risk [RR] level, 0.97 [0.58-1.61]; P = 0.90; RR slope, 1.05 [0.95-1.17] per month; P = 0.310) and FilmArray RP (RR level, 0.90 [0.46-1.75]; P = 0.75; RR slope, 0.95 [0.85-1.06] per month; P = 0.330) had no significant effect on the monthly antibiotic prescription rates. The COVID-19 pandemic was not significantly related to the antibiotic prescription rate, suggesting that it did not impact physicians' behavior toward antibiotic prescriptions. Replacing rapid antigen tests with the FilmArray RP introduced on December 1, 2020, did not affect the magnitude of the reduction in antibiotic prescription rate for pediatric respiratory infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Kitagawa
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nara Prefecture General Medical Center, Nara, Japan
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
- * E-mail: (DK); (TK)
| | - Taito Kitano
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (DK); (TK)
| | - Madoka Furumori
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nara Prefecture General Medical Center, Nara, Japan
| | - Soma Suzuki
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nara Prefecture General Medical Center, Nara, Japan
| | - Yui Shintani
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nara Prefecture General Medical Center, Nara, Japan
| | - Hiroki Nishikawa
- Department of Pediatrics, Nara Prefecture General Medical Center, Nara, Japan
| | - Rika Suzuki
- Department of Pediatrics, Nara Prefecture General Medical Center, Nara, Japan
| | - Naohiro Yamamoto
- Department of Pediatrics, Nara Prefecture General Medical Center, Nara, Japan
| | - Masayuki Onaka
- Department of Pediatrics, Nara Prefecture General Medical Center, Nara, Japan
| | - Atsuko Nishiyama
- Department of Pediatrics, Nara Prefecture General Medical Center, Nara, Japan
| | - Takehito Kasamatsu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Nara Prefecture General Medical Center, Nara, Japan
| | - Naoyuki Shiraishi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Nara Prefecture General Medical Center, Nara, Japan
| | - Yuki Suzuki
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Akiyo Nakano
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Ryuichi Nakano
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Hisakazu Yano
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Koichi Maeda
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Nara Prefecture General Medical Center, Nara, Japan
| | - Sayaka Yoshida
- Department of Pediatrics, Nara Prefecture General Medical Center, Nara, Japan
| | - Fumihiko Nakamura
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nara Prefecture General Medical Center, Nara, Japan
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13
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Korppi M. Antibiotics prescribed for young children fell when COVID-19 restrictions were in place. Acta Paediatr 2023; 112:17-18. [PMID: 36200669 PMCID: PMC9874909 DOI: 10.1111/apa.16553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Matti Korppi
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Technology, Centre for Child Health ResearchUniversity of TampereTampereFinland,Tampere University HospitalTampereFinland
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14
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Bacorn M, Romero-Soto HN, Levy S, Chen Q, Hourigan SK. The Gut Microbiome of Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10122460. [PMID: 36557713 PMCID: PMC9783902 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10122460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiome has been shown to play a critical role in maintaining a healthy state. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome is involved in modulating disease severity and potentially contributes to long-term outcomes in adults with COVID-19. Due to children having a significantly lower risk of severe illness and limited sample availability, much less is known about the role of the gut microbiome in children with COVID-19. It is well recognized that the developing gut microbiome of children differs from that of adults, but it is unclear if this difference contributes to the different clinical presentations and complications. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge of the gut microbiome in children with COVID-19, with gut microbiome dysbiosis being found in pediatric COVID-19 but specific taxa change often differing from those described in adults. Additionally, we discuss possible mechanisms of how the gut microbiome may mediate the presentation and complications of COVID-19 in children and the potential role for microbial therapeutics.
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15
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Payvandi L, Correa ET, Hatoun J, O'Donnell H, Vernacchio L. Trends in Telehealth Antibiotic Prescribing for Children Through the COVID-19 Pandemic. Pediatrics 2022; 150:188355. [PMID: 35765129 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2022-056209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Telehealth visits increased significantly during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic without consensus on the appropriate scope of telehealth antibiotic prescribing within pediatric primary care. We describe telehealth antibiotic prescribing patterns within our statewide pediatric primary care network during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. METHODS In a retrospective observational study of a large statewide pediatric primary care network, we identified and analyzed telehealth and in-person encounters with oral antibiotics prescribed from March 2020 to July 2021. We focused on the top 5 general diagnosis groupings using International Classification of Disease 10 codes. RESULTS Of the 55 926 encounters with an oral antibiotic prescribed, 12.5% were conducted via telehealth and 87.5% in person. The proportion of telehealth antibiotic encounters varied significantly according to diagnosis category (P <.001): ear (30.8%), skin and subcutaneous (21.8%), respiratory (18.8%), genitourinary (6.3%), and Lyme disease infections (3.8%). The proportion of telehealth antibiotic encounters for all diagnosis categories peaked in spring of 2020. The greatest proportion of telehealth antibiotic prescribing during the most recent 4weeks of the analysis were Lyme disease infections (11.7%) and for skin and subcutaneous tissue infections (3.1%). CONCLUSIONS Telehealth continues to be used to prescribe antibiotics even after the initial stage of the pandemic. Clinicians and patients would benefit from clearer guidelines about the appropriate use of antibiotics prescribed during telehealth encounters.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jonathan Hatoun
- Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Pediatric Physicians' Organization at Children's, Brookline, Massachusetts.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Heather O'Donnell
- Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Pediatric Physicians' Organization at Children's, Brookline, Massachusetts
| | - Louis Vernacchio
- Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Pediatric Physicians' Organization at Children's, Brookline, Massachusetts.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
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16
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Kuitunen I, Renko M. Antibiotic prescriptions during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic in Finnish children. Acta Paediatr 2022; 112:143-145. [PMID: 35982603 PMCID: PMC9538447 DOI: 10.1111/apa.16515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ilari Kuitunen
- Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of Eastern FinlandKuopioFinland,Department of PediatricsMikkeli Central HospitalMikkeliFinland
| | - Marjo Renko
- Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of Eastern FinlandKuopioFinland,Department of PediatricsKuopio University HospitalKuopioFinland
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17
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Wattles BA, Jawad KS, Feygin YF, Stahl JD, Vidwan NK, Stevenson MD, Kong M, Smith MJ. Quality of antibiotic prescribing to children through the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP & HEALTHCARE EPIDEMIOLOGY : ASHE 2022; 2:e94. [PMID: 36483376 PMCID: PMC9726595 DOI: 10.1017/ash.2022.235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe pediatric outpatient visits and antibiotic prescribing during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. DESIGN An observational, retrospective control study from January 2019 to October 2021. SETTING Outpatient clinics, including 27 family medicine clinics, 27 pediatric clinics, and 26 urgent or prompt care clinics. PATIENTS Children aged 0-19 years receiving care in an outpatient setting. METHODS Data were extracted from the electronic health record. The COVID-19 era was defined as April 1, 2020, to October 31, 2021. Virtual visits were identified by coded encounter or visit type variables. Visit diagnoses were assigned using a 3-tier classification system based on appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing and a subanalysis of respiratory visits was performed to compare changes in the COVID-19 era compared to baseline. RESULTS Through October 2021, we detected an overall sustained reduction of 18.2% in antibiotic prescribing to children. Disproportionate changes occurred in the percentages of antibiotic visits in respiratory visits for children by age, race or ethnicity, practice setting, and prescriber type. Virtual visits were minimal during the study period but did not result in higher rates of antibiotic visits or in-person follow-up visits. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that reductions in antibiotic prescribing have been sustained despite increases in outpatient visits. However, additional studies are warranted to better understand disproportionate rates of antibiotic visits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany A. Wattles
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky
| | - Kahir S. Jawad
- Norton Children’s Research Institute Affiliated with University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky
| | - Yana F. Feygin
- Norton Children’s Research Institute Affiliated with University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky
| | - J. Drew Stahl
- Department of Pharmacy, Norton Children’s Hospital, Louisville, Kentucky
| | - Navjyot K. Vidwan
- Norton Children’s and University of Louisville School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Louisville, Kentucky
| | - Michelle D. Stevenson
- Norton Children’s and University of Louisville School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Louisville, Kentucky
| | - Maiying Kong
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, University of Louisville School for Public Health and Information Sciences, Louisville, Kentucky
| | - Michael J. Smith
- Department of Pediatrics and Duke Center for Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Prevention, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
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