Background: Pneumonia is often treated for longer than necessary, yet factors associated with excess duration of treatment are unknown. We sought to: (a) develop an algorithm to determine appropriate antibiotic duration in non-intensive care unit (ICU) patients hospitalized with pneumonia and (b) apply this algorithm to an ongoing prospective study to determine patient-, provider-, and [...]

Background: Pneumonia is often treated for longer than necessary, yet factors associated with excess duration of treatment are unknown. We sought to: (a) develop an algorithm to determine appropriate antibiotic duration in non-intensive care unit (ICU) patients hospitalized with pneumonia and (b) apply this algorithm to an ongoing prospective study to determine patient-, provider-, and [...]

Background: Acute otitis media (AOM) is a commonly overtreated pediatric diagnosis. Since 2014, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recommended a ‘wait-and-see’ strategy and shorter antibiotic courses for mild or moderate AOM in qualifying patients. While this strategy has been successfully implemented in some pediatric emergency units (EUs), studies have shown that 30-90% of [...]

Background: The CDC recognizes antimicrobial resistance as an urgent global public health threat and supports antibiotic stewardship initiatives to combat antibiotic resistance. Pneumonia is a frequent condition treated by both hospitalists and emergency room physicians and the most common reason for inpatient antibiotic use and over prescribing. Recent IDSA guidelines for the treatment of community [...]

Background: Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of hospitalization, economic burden and excess antibiotic use in the United States.1,2 Previously, a multidisciplinary group at University of Utah Health launched a clinical decision support triggered CAP pathway in 2017 that was associated with cost savings and decreased duration of antibiotics.3 Based on review of [...]