Background: Inappropriate diagnosis of urinary tract infections (UTI) contributes to antibiotic overuse. We previously validated and refined a patient safety measure that defines inappropriate diagnosis of UTI (i.e., treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria [ASB]) and was endorsed by the National Quality Forum. Use of this measure as a pay-for-performance metric in the Michigan Hospital Medicine Safety [...]

Background: Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB), or bacterial growth on urine culture without localizing urinary symptoms, is common in hospitalized patients.1,2 ASB is often misdiagnosed as urinary tract infection (UTI) and treated with antibiotics3 despite no improvement in mortality1 and multiple harms associated with antibiotic overuse.4,5 To reduce treatment of ASB, many hospitals set urinalysis parameters (e.g. [...]

Background: The ABIM Foundation’s Choosing Wisely Campaign and The Infectious Diseases Society of America recommend against screening and treating for suspected urinary tract infections (UTI) unless patients are symptomatic or meet specific clinical parameters (1). Inappropriate testing for UTIs with urinalysis and urine cultures is prevalent in healthcare and may lead to waste in resources, [...]