National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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Search All Research Studies
Topics
- Adverse Drug Events (ADE) (1)
- Adverse Events (2)
- Ambulatory Care and Surgery (2)
- Antibiotics (14)
- (-) Antimicrobial Stewardship (18)
- Caregiving (1)
- (-) Children/Adolescents (18)
- Critical Care (3)
- Diagnostic Safety and Quality (2)
- Emergency Department (1)
- Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) (1)
- Healthcare Costs (2)
- Home Healthcare (1)
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (4)
- Medicaid (1)
- Medication (11)
- Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (1)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (1)
- Patient Safety (2)
- Practice Patterns (2)
- Respiratory Conditions (1)
- Sepsis (2)
- Shared Decision Making (1)
- Surgery (3)
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 18 of 18 Research Studies DisplayedOlmeda K, Trautner BW, Laytner L
Prevalence and predictors of using antibiotics without a prescription in a pediatric population in the United States.
This study assessed the prevalence of antibiotic use in children in the previous 12 months, storage of antimicrobials, and intended use of non-prescription antibiotics (professed intention for future non-prescription antibiotic use). A diverse sample of caregivers of children under 18 years were surveyed in English and Spanish at two safety net clinics in Texas from January 2021 to April 2022. There was an 82% response rate, with 17% surveyed in Spanish. Approximately 21% reported storing antibiotics in their home, specifically amoxicillin (n = 52), clindamycin (n = 10), cephalexin (n = 5), penicillin (n = 3), and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (n = 3). Nearly 15% reported intention to give non-prescription antibiotics to their children, with three Spanish-speaking caregivers reporting giving non-prescription antibiotics to their child in the previous 12 months. Younger caregivers were associated with storage and intended use of non-prescription antibiotics.
AHRQ-funded; HS027869.
Citation: Olmeda K, Trautner BW, Laytner L .
Prevalence and predictors of using antibiotics without a prescription in a pediatric population in the United States.
Antibiotics 2023 Mar;12(3). doi: 10.3390/antibiotics12030491..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Antibiotics, Medication, Antimicrobial Stewardship
Chiotos K, Blumenthal J, Boguniewicz J
Antibiotic indications and appropriateness in the pediatric intensive care unit: a 10-center point prevalence study.
The purpose of this study was to describe indications and appropriateness of antibiotic orders in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients. The study found that of 1462 patients admitted to participating PICUs, 58% had at least 1 antibiotic order, with 1277 antibiotic orders being reviewed. Common indications were empiric therapy for suspected bacterial infections without sepsis or septic shock, nonoperative prophylaxis, empiric therapy for sepsis or septic shock, community-acquired pneumonia, and post-operative prophylaxis. Appropriateness was evaluated for 985 orders for which an evidence-based heading for appropriateness could be created. Of these, 34% were categorized as inappropriate. Indications with the most orders classified as inappropriate were empiric therapy for suspected bacterial infection without sepsis or septic shock, sepsis or septic shock, CAP, ventilator-associated infections, and post-operative prophylaxis. The proportion of antibiotics classified as inappropriate differed across institutions.
AHRQ-funded; HS026393.
Citation: Chiotos K, Blumenthal J, Boguniewicz J .
Antibiotic indications and appropriateness in the pediatric intensive care unit: a 10-center point prevalence study.
Clin Infect Dis 2023 Feb 8; 76(3):e1021-e30. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciac698..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Antibiotics, Medication, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Sepsis
Chiotos K, Marshall D, Kellom K
Mixed-methods process evaluation of a respiratory-culture diagnostic stewardship intervention.
The purpose of this study was to perform an evaluation of a diagnostic stewardship initiative for respiratory culture in the healthcare setting within a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in a tertiary-care center. The study found that the frequency of culture collection per day of service differed among attending physicians, ranging from 2.2 to 27 cultures per 100 days. A total of 14 interviews were conducted, and 87 clinicians (response rate: 47%) along with 77 nurses or respiratory therapists (response rate: 17%) participated in the survey. There was a variation in clinicians' stated practices concerning culture ordering, which was influenced by both their specialty and their perception of the respiratory culture's usefulness. Additionally, group "default" practices, fear, and hierarchy affected the decision to order cultures. Obstacles to standardization encompassed concerns about missing a diagnosis and the conflict between standardized practices and individual judgment.
AHRQ-funded; HS026393.
Citation: Chiotos K, Marshall D, Kellom K .
Mixed-methods process evaluation of a respiratory-culture diagnostic stewardship intervention.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2023 Feb; 44(2):191-99. doi: 10.1017/ice.2022.299..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Antibiotics, Medication, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
Woods-Hill CZ, Colantuoni EA, Koontz DW
Association of diagnostic stewardship for blood cultures in critically ill children with culture rates, antibiotic use, and patient outcomes: results of the Bright STAR Collaborative.
The purpose of this AHRQ-funded prospective study was to assess the relationship between a 14-site PICU blood culture collaborative, the Bright STAR (Testing Stewardship for Antibiotic Reduction) collaborative, and culture rates, antibiotic use, and patient outcomes. The researchers collected data from each participating PICU across the United States and from the Children’s Hospital Association Pediatric Health Information System. The main outcome was blood culture rates, with secondary outcomes including: broad-spectrum antibiotic use and PICU rates of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), Clostridioides difficile infection, readmission, length of stay, sepsis, severe sepsis/septic shock, and mortality. The study found that the blood culture rate preimplementation across the 14 PICUs was 149.4 per 1000 patient days per month, and the rate postimplementation was 100.5 for a 33% relative reduction postimplementation. For those same periods, the rate of antibiotic use decreased from 506 days per 1000 patient-days per month preimplementation to 440 days per 1000 patient-days per month postimplementation, which reflects a 13% relative reduction. Rates of CLABSI decreased from 1.8 to 1.1 per 1000 central venous line days per month, a 36% relative reduction. The variables of length of stay, readmission, sepsis, severe sepsis/septic shock, and mortality were similar before and after implementation. The researchers concluded that collaborative interventions can reduce blood culture and antibiotic use in the PICU.
AHRQ-funded; HS025642.
Citation: Woods-Hill CZ, Colantuoni EA, Koontz DW .
Association of diagnostic stewardship for blood cultures in critically ill children with culture rates, antibiotic use, and patient outcomes: results of the Bright STAR Collaborative.
JAMA Pediatr 2022 Jul;176(7):690-98. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.1024..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Sepsis, Critical Care, Antibiotics, Medication, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Antimicrobial Stewardship
Chiotos K, Fitzgerald JC, Hayes M
Improving vancomycin stewardship in critically ill children.
The purpose of this study was to describe a quality improvement intervention to reduce the use of vancomycin in a tertiary care Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Over a period of 3 years, the researchers conducted 3 quality improvement (QI) interventions including 1) stakeholder education, 2) development of a consensus-based guideline for empiric vancomycin use, and 3) implementation of the guideline through clinical decision support. The study found that of 1276 episodes of suspected bacterial infection, a total of 19 cases of bacteremia (1.5%) due to organisms requiring vancomycin therapy were identified, including 6 MRSA bacteremias. Over the 3-year period of the QI project, overall vancomycin DOT per 1000 patient days in the PICU decreased from a baseline mean of 182 DOT per 1000 patient days to 109 DOT per 1000 patient days (a 40% reduction). The study concluded that the intervention reduced overall vancomycin use in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit without evidence of harm.
AHRQ-funded; HS026393.
Citation: Chiotos K, Fitzgerald JC, Hayes M .
Improving vancomycin stewardship in critically ill children.
Pediatrics 2022 Apr;149(4):e2021052165. doi: 10.1542/peds.2021-052165..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Critical Care, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Antibiotics, Medication, Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
Malone S, McKay VR, Krucylak C
A cluster randomized stepped-wedge trial to de-implement unnecessary post-operative antibiotics in children: the optimizing perioperative antibiotic in children (OPerAtiC) trial.
This paper describes an upcoming clinical trial to determine best strategies to de-implement inappropriate antibiotic use in pediatric post-operative surgical cases deemed low risk for infection. This study will provide important information on the impact of two potential strategies while assessing important clinical outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS026742.
Citation: Malone S, McKay VR, Krucylak C .
A cluster randomized stepped-wedge trial to de-implement unnecessary post-operative antibiotics in children: the optimizing perioperative antibiotic in children (OPerAtiC) trial.
Implement Sci 2021 Mar 19;16(1):29. doi: 10.1186/s13012-021-01096-1..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Antibiotics, Medication, Surgery
Jones TW, Fino N, Olson J
The impact of beta-lactam allergy labels on hospitalized children.
Investigators sought to determine the impact of beta-lactam allergy labels in hospitalized children with regards to clinical and economic outcomes. Subjects were pediatric patients hospitalized at Intermountain Healthcare facilities from 2007 to 2017 who received one or more 1 dose of an antibiotic during their admission. The researchers found that patients with beta-lactam allergy received broader-spectrum antibiotics and experienced higher antibiotic costs than nonallergic controls. However, there were no differences in the length of stay, readmission rates, or total number of days of antibiotics between allergic and nonallergic patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS023320.
Citation: Jones TW, Fino N, Olson J .
The impact of beta-lactam allergy labels on hospitalized children.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2021 Mar;42(3):318-24. doi: 10.1017/ice.2020.424..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Antibiotics, Medication, Antimicrobial Stewardship
Malone SM, Seigel NS, Newland JG
Understanding antibiotic prophylaxis prescribing in pediatric surgical specialties.
The objective of this study was to understand the factors that contribute to pediatric surgeons' decisions regarding the use of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. The investigators found that surgeons described a complex set of factors that impacted their antibiotic prescribing in pediatric surgical cases. They reported initial, but not ongoing, training and a use of individual weight of risk and benefit as a major dictator of prescribing practices.
AHRQ-funded; HS026742.
Citation: Malone SM, Seigel NS, Newland JG .
Understanding antibiotic prophylaxis prescribing in pediatric surgical specialties.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2020 Jun;41(6):666-71. doi: 10.1017/ice.2020.71..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Antibiotics, Surgery, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Medication, Practice Patterns
Fischer MA, Mahesri M, Lii J
Non-Infection-related and non-visit-based antibiotic prescribing is common among Medicaid patients.
This study examined antibiotic prescribing by clinicians when there was no visit or without clear indications for use. The authors discuss the fact that current ambulatory antibiotic stewardship policies do not capture prescribing outside of clinician visits or clear indications for use. They measured the frequency for all filled antibiotic prescriptions in Medicaid patients in the period 2004-2013. They found that out of 298 million antibiotic fills for 53 million patients (62% for children), 55% were for clinician visits with an infection-related diagnosis, 17% were for visits without an infection-related diagnosis, and 28% were not associated with a visit.
AHRQ-funded; HS024930; HS023236; HS024651; HS026506; 2332015000201.
Citation: Fischer MA, Mahesri M, Lii J .
Non-Infection-related and non-visit-based antibiotic prescribing is common among Medicaid patients.
Health Aff 2020 Feb;39(2):280-88. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00545..
Keywords: Antimicrobial Stewardship, Medicaid, Antibiotics, Medication, Practice Patterns, Children/Adolescents
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
Krah NM, Bardsley T, Nelson R
Economic burden of home antimicrobial therapy: OPAT versus oral therapy.
There is increasing evidence that outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is overused for children and that outcomes with oral therapy are equivalent. The objective of this study was to compare economic burden between OPAT and oral therapy, accounting for direct and indirect costs and caregiver quality of life (QoL). The investigators concluded that the overall burden of OPAT was substantially higher than that of oral therapy, including higher direct and indirect costs and greater impact on caregiver QoL.
AHRQ-funded; HS023320.
Citation: Krah NM, Bardsley T, Nelson R .
Economic burden of home antimicrobial therapy: OPAT versus oral therapy.
Hosp Pediatr 2019 Apr;9(4):234-40. doi: 10.1542/hpeds.201-0193.
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Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Children/Adolescents, Caregiving, Home Healthcare, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Antibiotics, Medication
Mistry RD, May LS, Pulia MS
Improving antimicrobial stewardship in pediatric emergency care: a pathway forward.
In this commentary, the authors discuss a study in this same issue. Recent multidisciplinary teams have used novel methods to successfully engage with and intervene in urgent care, pediatric, and general–emergency department antibiotic prescribing. Antibiotic stewardship programs are recommended, as well as emergency department experts continuing to collaborate and formulate thoughtful solutions to this important patient-safety and public-health issue.
AHRQ-funded; HS024342.
Citation: Mistry RD, May LS, Pulia MS .
Improving antimicrobial stewardship in pediatric emergency care: a pathway forward.
Pediatrics 2019 Feb;143(2). doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-2972..
Keywords: Antimicrobial Stewardship, Antibiotics, Children/Adolescents, Emergency Department, Medication, Patient Safety
Karandikar MV, Coffin SE, Priebe GP
Variability in antimicrobial use in pediatric ventilator-associated events.
This article describes a study which assesses variability in antimicrobial use and associations with infection testing in pediatric ventilator-associated events (VAEs). 192 patients with ventilator-associated conditions were identified in neonatal, pediatric, and cardiac ICUs in six hospitals. Type and duration of antimicrobial use varied by ICU type. The authors conclude that antimicrobial use is common in pediatric ventilator-associated conditions, but pediatric VAP is uncommon; prolonged usage of antimicrobials in spite of low pediatric VAP rates or positive laboratory testing for infection suggests that pediatric ventilator-associated conditions with antimicrobial use for >/= 4 days may provide a lever for antimicrobial stewardship programs to improve utilization.
AHRQ-funded; HS021636.
Citation: Karandikar MV, Coffin SE, Priebe GP .
Variability in antimicrobial use in pediatric ventilator-associated events.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2019 Jan;40(1):32-39. doi: 10.1017/ice.2018.264..
Keywords: Adverse Events, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Children/Adolescents, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Respiratory Conditions
Hersh AL, Olson J, Stockmann C
Impact of antimicrobial stewardship for pediatric outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy.
In this study, the investigators developed an outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) stewardship program in a freestanding children's hospital to improve the appropriateness of OPAT prescribing.
AHRQ-funded; HS023320.
Citation: Hersh AL, Olson J, Stockmann C .
Impact of antimicrobial stewardship for pediatric outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy.
J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 2018 May 15;7(2):e34-e36. doi: 10.1093/jpids/pix038..
Keywords: Antibiotics, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Children/Adolescents, Ambulatory Care and Surgery
Knackstedt ED, Stockmann C, Davis CR
Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy in pediatrics: an opportunity to expand antimicrobial stewardship.
The researchers reviewed patient discharges with outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) to determine whether OPAT was modifiable or unnecessary at a large tertiary care children’s hospital. At least one modification definitely or possibly would have been recommended for 78 percent of episodes. For more than 40 percent of episodes, OPAT was potentially not indicated.
AHRQ-funded; HS023320.
Citation: Knackstedt ED, Stockmann C, Davis CR .
Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy in pediatrics: an opportunity to expand antimicrobial stewardship.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2015 Feb;36(2):222-4. doi: 10.1017/ice.2014.27..
Keywords: Antimicrobial Stewardship, Children/Adolescents, Ambulatory Care and Surgery
Kronman MP, Hersh AL, Gerber JS
Identifying antimicrobial stewardship targets for pediatric surgical patients.
The authors examined the collective pool of all systemic antibiotics prescribed to children hospitalized for surgical conditions and identified common surgical conditions with highly variable and potentially unnecessary antibiotic use. They concluded that the use of vancomycin for pediatric cardiothoracic and neurosurgical patients, and broad-spectrum antipseudomonal agents for gastrointestinal surgery patients, represent potentially high-yield targets for stewardship efforts to reduce unnecessary antimicrobial use.
AHRQ-funded; HS023320.
Citation: Kronman MP, Hersh AL, Gerber JS .
Identifying antimicrobial stewardship targets for pediatric surgical patients.
J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 2015 Dec;4(4):e100-8. doi: 10.1093/jpids/piv022.
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Keywords: Antibiotics, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Children/Adolescents, Children/Adolescents, Surgery
Smith MJ, Gerber JS, Hersh AL
Inpatient antimicrobial stewardship in pediatrics: a systematic review.
The purpose of this paper was to describe the clinical and economic outcomes associated with pediatric antimicrobial stewardship programs and other supplemental antimicrobial stewardship interventions. The authors concluded that the studies researched demonstrated reductions in antimicrobial utilization, cost, and prescribing errors with no apparent negative impact on patient safety.
AHRQ-funded; HS023320.
Citation: Smith MJ, Gerber JS, Hersh AL .
Inpatient antimicrobial stewardship in pediatrics: a systematic review.
J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 2015 Dec;4(4):e127-35. doi: 10.1093/jpids/piu141.
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Keywords: Antimicrobial Stewardship, Children/Adolescents, Healthcare Costs, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Children/Adolescents
Morelli JJ, Hogan PG, Sullivan ML
Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Staphylococcus aureus isolates recovered from humans, environmental surfaces, and companion animals in households of children with community-onset Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus infections.
The study objective was to determine the antibiotic susceptibility profiles of Staphylococcus aureus isolates recovered from 110 households of children with community-onset methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections. It found that the S. aureus isolates were heterogeneous, although more than half were methicillin resistant. The highest proportion of MRSA was found in bathrooms.
AHRQ-funded; HS021736.
Citation: Morelli JJ, Hogan PG, Sullivan ML .
Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Staphylococcus aureus isolates recovered from humans, environmental surfaces, and companion animals in households of children with community-onset Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus infections.
Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2015 Oct;59(10):6634-7. doi: 10.1128/aac.01492-15.
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Keywords: Antimicrobial Stewardship, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Children/Adolescents