Impact of clinical decision support on empirical antibiotic prescribing for children with community-acquired pneumonia.
J Paediatr Child Health 2019;
55:305-311. [PMID:
30161269 DOI:
10.1111/jpc.14191]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2017] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
AIM
To assess the impact of a computerised clinical decision support system (CDSS) on antibiotic use in hospitalised children with a presumptive diagnosis of uncomplicated community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).
METHODS
Codes associated with lower respiratory tract infection were used to identify cases of presumed uncomplicated CAP requiring admission to a tertiary paediatric hospital. Random sampling of the periods between 1 October 2010 and 30 September 2012 (pre-CDSS) and 1 October 2012 and 30 September 2014 (post-CDSS) determined the sequence of case assessment by two independent investigators. Initial antibiotic therapy, associated CDSS approvals and documented signs of clinical deterioration prior to antibiotic decision-making were recorded.
RESULTS
Statistically significant differences between cases pre- and post-CDSS implementation were minimal. High fever was observed in 57.5% (77/134) cases pre-CDSS and 45.8% (49/107) cases post-CDSS (P = 0.07). Supplemental oxygen was used in 30.6% pre-CDSS and 54.2% post-CDSS cases (P < 0.001). Narrow-spectrum penicillins were prescribed most often, with no statistically significant change post-CDSS implementation (81.3% pre-CDSS, 77.6% post-CDSS, P = 0.47). Macrolides were used consistently throughout the study period (53.7% pre-CDSS, 61.7% post-CDSS; P = 0.21).
CONCLUSION
CDSS implementation did not reduce already low rates of broad-spectrum antibiotic use for uncomplicated CAP.
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