National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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Topics
- Adverse Drug Events (ADE) (1)
- Adverse Events (1)
- Antibiotics (1)
- Antimicrobial Stewardship (1)
- (-) Children/Adolescents (2)
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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 2 of 2 Research Studies DisplayedSick-Samuels AC, Linz M, Bergmann J
Diagnostic stewardship of endotracheal aspirate cultures in a PICU.
This study describes the development and impact of a clinical decision support algorithm to standardize the use of endotracheal aspirate cultures (EACs) from ventilated PICU patients in the evaluation of suspected ventilator-associated infections. Bacterial growth in EACs does not distinguish bacterial colonization from infection and may lead to overtreatment with antibiotics. The rate of EACs was compared pre- and postintervention. In the preintervention year there were 557 EACs over 5092 ventilator days. After introduction of the algorithm the rate went down to 234 EACs over 3654 ventilator days. There was a 41% decrease in the monthly rate of EACs. This intervention did not affect mortality, readmissions, or length of stay in ventilated PICU patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS025642.
Citation: Sick-Samuels AC, Linz M, Bergmann J .
Diagnostic stewardship of endotracheal aspirate cultures in a PICU.
Pediatrics 2021 May;147(5). doi: 10.1542/peds.2020-1634..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Shared Decision Making, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Woods-Hill CZ, Koontz DW, King AF
Practices, perceptions, and attitudes in the evaluation of critically ill children for bacteremia: a national survey.
Sending blood cultures in children at low risk of bacteremia can contribute to a cascade of unnecessary antibiotic exposure, adverse effects, and increased costs. In this study, the investigators aimed to describe practice variation, clinician beliefs, and attitudes about blood culture testing in critically ill children. They concluded that there is variation in blood culture practices in the pediatric ICU. Fear and reflexive habits are common drivers of cultures. These practices may contribute to over-testing for bacteremia.
AHRQ-funded; HS025642.
Citation: Woods-Hill CZ, Koontz DW, King AF .
Practices, perceptions, and attitudes in the evaluation of critically ill children for bacteremia: a national survey.
Pediatr Crit Care Med 2020 Jan;21(1):e23-e29. doi: 10.1097/pcc.0000000000002176..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Critical Care, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Antibiotics, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Patient Safety, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Shared Decision Making