161. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Safety Program for Improving Antibiotic Use: Antibiotic Stewardship Intervention in 389 United States Ambulatory Practices during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract Background The AHRQ Safety Program for Improving Antibiotic Use aimed to improve antibiotic use by engaging clinicians and staff to incorporate antibiotic stewardship (AS) into practice culture, communication, and decision making. We report on changes in visits and antibiotic prescribing in AHRQ Safety Program ambulatory practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods The Safety Program used webinars, audio presentations, educational tools, and office hours to engage clinician champions and staff leaders to: (a) address attitudes and culture that pose challenges to judicious antibiotic prescribing and (b) incorporate best practices for the management of common infections into their workflow using the Four Moments of Antibiotic Decision Making framework. Total visits (in-person and virtual), acute respiratory infection (ARI) visits, and antibiotic prescribing data were collected. Using linear mixed models to account for random effects of participating practices and repeated measurements of outcomes within practices over time, data from the pre-intervention period (September-November 2019) and the Ambulatory Care Safety Program (December 2019-November 2020) were compared. Results Of 467 practices enrolled, 389 (83%) completed the program, including 162 primary care practices (42%; 23 [6%] pediatric), 160 urgent care practices (41%; 40 [10%] pediatric), and 49 federally-supported practices (13%). 292 practices submitted complete data for analysis, including 6,590,485 visits. Visits/practice-month declined March-May 2020 but gradually returned to baseline by program end (Figure 1). Total antibiotic prescribing declined by 9 prescriptions/100 visits (95% CI: -10 to -8). ARI visits/practice-month declined significantly in March-May 2020, then increased but remained below baseline by program end (Figure 2). ARI-related antibiotic prescriptions decreased by 15/100 ARI visits by program end (95% CI: -17 to -12). The greatest reduction was in penicillin class prescriptions with a reduction of 7/100 ARI visits by program end (95% CI: -9 to -6). Conclusion During the COVID-19 pandemic, a national ambulatory AS program was associated with declines in overall and ARI-related antibiotic prescribing. Disclosures Pranita Tamma, MD, MHS, Nothing to disclose Sara E. Cosgrove, MD, MS, Basilea (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Consultant Jeffrey A. Linder, MD, MPH, FACP, Amgen (Shareholder)Biogen (Shareholder)Eli Lilly (Shareholder)

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Development of an Electronic Algorithm to Identify Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescribing for Pediatric Pharyngitis

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1017/ice.2020.728 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. s188-s189

Author(s):

Jeffrey Gerber ◽

Robert Grundmeier ◽

Keith Hamilton ◽

Lauri Hicks ◽

Melinda Neuhauser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Predictive Value ◽

Gold Standard ◽

Antibiotic Stewardship ◽

Chart Review ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Audit And Feedback ◽

Urgent Care ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Tract Infections ◽

The Impact

Background: Antibiotic overuse contributes to antibiotic resistance and unnecessary adverse drug effects. Antibiotic stewardship interventions have primarily focused on acute-care settings. Most antibiotic use, however, occurs in outpatients with acute respiratory tract infections such as pharyngitis. The electronic health record (EHR) might provide an effective and efficient tool for outpatient antibiotic stewardship. We aimed to develop and validate an electronic algorithm to identify inappropriate antibiotic use for pediatric outpatients with pharyngitis. Methods: This study was conducted within the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Care Network, including 31 pediatric primary care practices and 3 urgent care centers with a shared EHR serving >250,000 children. We used International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes to identify encounters for pharyngitis at any CHOP practice from March 15, 2017, to March 14, 2018, excluding those with concurrent infections (eg, otitis media, sinusitis), immunocompromising conditions, or other comorbidities that might influence the need for antibiotics. We randomly selected 450 features for detailed chart abstraction assessing patient demographics as well as practice and prescriber characteristics. Appropriateness of antibiotic use based on chart review served as the gold standard for evaluating the electronic algorithm. Criteria for appropriate use included streptococcal testing, use of penicillin or amoxicillin (absent β-lactam allergy), and a 10-day duration of therapy. Results: In 450 patients, the median age was 8.4 years (IQR, 5.5–9.0) and 54% were women. On chart review, 149 patients (33%) received an antibiotic, of whom 126 had a positive rapid strep result. Thus, based on chart review, 23 subjects (5%) diagnosed with pharyngitis received antibiotics inappropriately. Amoxicillin or penicillin was prescribed for 100 of the 126 children (79%) with a positive rapid strep test. Of the 126 children with a positive test, 114 (90%) received the correct antibiotic: amoxicillin, penicillin, or an appropriate alternative antibiotic due to b-lactam allergy. Duration of treatment was correct for all 126 children. Using the electronic algorithm, the proportion of inappropriate prescribing was 28 of 450 (6%). The test characteristics of the electronic algorithm (compared to gold standard chart review) for identification of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing were sensitivity (99%, 422 of 427); specificity (100%, 23 of 23); positive predictive value (82%, 23 of 28); and negative predictive value (100%, 422 of 422). Conclusions: For children with pharyngitis, an electronic algorithm for identification of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing is highly accurate. Future work should validate this approach in other settings and develop and evaluate the impact of an audit and feedback intervention based on this tool.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

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1881. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Safety Program for Improving Antibiotic Use: Results From a National Antibiotic Stewardship Intervention of 402 United States (US) Hospitals

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofz359.111 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. S50-S50

Author(s):

Pranita Tamma ◽

Melissa A Miller ◽

Prashila Dullabh ◽

Roy Ahn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Best Practices ◽

Acute Care ◽

Safety Issue ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Healthcare Research ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Frontline Staff ◽

Safety Program ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background The AHRQ Safety Program for Improving Antibiotic Use aims to improve antibiotic (abx) use in acute, long-term, and outpatient care settings by enhancing abx stewardship programs (ASP) and engaging frontline providers to incorporate stewardship into daily abx decision-making, with an emphasis on viewing appropriate prescribing as a patient safety issue. We report on the impact of implementation of the Acute Care Safety Program on abx use and Clostridioides difficile in a cohort of US hospitals. Methods The Acute Care Safety Program was implemented from December 2017 to November 2018. At least one unit from each hospital participated. The Safety Program trained local ASP leaders and assisted ASPs and frontline staff to: (a) address attitudes and culture that pose challenges to judicious abx use and (b) incorporate best practices for the management of common infections into daily practice using the Four Moments of Antibiotic Decision Making framework (Figure 1). Education occurred via 17 live Webinars and an online toolkit that included recorded Webinars, narrated presentations, and other tools to assist with the development and dissemination of syndrome-specific local guidelines (Table 1). Units submitted days of abx therapy (DOT) per 1,000 patient-days (PD), C. difficile LabID events per 10,000 PD, and 10 review forms per month documenting structured discussions between the ASP and frontline staff about patients on abx. Linear and generalized linear mixed-effects models were employed to calculate pre-post intervention changes in abx use and C. difficile LabID events, respectively. Results 402 hospitals completed the Safety Program, including 28 (7%) academic medical centers (AMC), 289 (72%) community hospitals, and 85 (21%) critical access hospitals. 476 participating units consisted of 165 (35%) ICUs, 300 (63%) medical-surgical floors, and 11 (2%) other units. Both abx use and C. difficile LabID events decreased when comparing pre-post data (−41 DOT per 1,000 PD, [from 886.56, Figure 2], P = 0.001 and −1.2 LabID events per 10,000 PD [from 6.3], P = 0.027), respectively. Conclusion By targeting both improving abx prescribing culture and knowledge of best practices, the AHRQ Safety Program led to reductions in abx use across a diverse cohort of hospitals. Disclosures Sara E. Cosgrove, MD, MS, Basilea: Consultant; Theravance: Consultant.

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Antibiotic Stewardship—Twenty Years in the Making

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics8010007 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 7 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Esmita Charani ◽

Alison Holmes

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Antibiotic Stewardship ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Social Process ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Contextual Variation ◽

Variation In Care ◽

Cultural Boundaries

In the last 20 years, efforts were made to optimize antibiotic use in hospitals across the world as a means of addressing the increasing threat of antibiotic resistance. Despite robust evidence supporting optimal practice, antibiotic decision-making remains sub-optimal in many settings, including in hospitals. Globally, resources remain a limiting factor in the implementation of antibiotic stewardship programs. In addition, antibiotic decision-making is a social process dependent on cultural and contextual factors. Cultural boundaries in healthcare and across specialties still limit the involvement of allied healthcare professionals in stewardship interventions. There is variation in the social norms and antibiotic-prescribing behaviors between specialties in hospitals. The cultural differences between specialties and healthcare professionals (1) shape the shared knowledge within and across specialties in the patient pathway, and (2) result in variation in care, thus impacting patient outcomes. Bespoke stewardship interventions that account for contextual variation in practice are necessary.

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Antimicrobial Stewardship Interventions to Optimize Treatment of Infections in Nursing Home Residents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Journal of Applied Gerontology ◽

10.1177/07334648211018299 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 073346482110182

Author(s):

Sainfer Aliyu ◽

Jasmine L. Travers ◽

S. Layla Heimlich ◽

Joanne Ifill ◽

Arlene Smaldone

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Nursing Home ◽

Antibiotic Stewardship ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Nursing Home Residents ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Prescribing Practices ◽

Stewardship Program ◽

Meta Analyses

Effects of antibiotic stewardship program (ASP) interventions to optimize antibiotic use for infections in nursing home (NH) residents remain unclear. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess ASPs in NHs and their effects on antibiotic use, multi-drug-resistant organisms, antibiotic prescribing practices, and resident mortality. Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis using five databases (1988–2020). Nineteen articles were included, 10 met the criteria for quantitative synthesis. Inappropriate antibiotic use decreased following ASP intervention in eight studies with a pooled decrease of 13.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: [4.7, 23.0]; Cochran’s Q = 166,837.8, p < .001, I2 = 99.9%) across studies. Decrease in inappropriate antibiotic use was highest in studies that examined antibiotic use for urinary tract infection (UTI). Education and antibiotic stewardship algorithms for UTI were the most effective interventions. Evidence surrounding ASPs in NH is weak, with recommendations suited for UTIs.

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Antibiotic Use Metrics to Guide Antibiotic Stewardship Priorities: Dental Antibiotic Prescribing in the U.S. Veterans Affairs (VA) System

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofx163.545 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 (suppl_1) ◽

pp. S252-S253

Author(s):

Kj Suda ◽

Margaret Fitzpatrick ◽

Gretchen Gibson ◽

Marianne Jurasic ◽

Scott Miskevics ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antibiotic Stewardship ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Veterans Affairs ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

The U.S

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1007. A novel approach to evaluate antibiotic utilization across the spectrum of inpatient and ambulatory care and implications for prioritization of antibiotic stewardship efforts

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofz360.871 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. S354-S354

Author(s):

Holly M Frost ◽

Bryan C Knepper ◽

Katherine C Shihadeh ◽

Timothy C Jenkins

Keyword(s):

Ambulatory Care ◽

Healthcare System ◽

Antibiotic Stewardship ◽

Antibacterial Agent ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Urgent Care ◽

Outpatient Clinics ◽

Integrated Healthcare ◽

Adult Outpatient ◽

Systemic Antibacterial

Abstract Background Antibiotic overuse remains a significant problem in inpatient and outpatient settings. The objective of this study was to develop a methodology to evaluate antibiotic use across inpatient and ambulatory care sites in an integrated healthcare system in order to prioritize antibiotic stewardship efforts. Methods We conducted an epidemiologic study of antibiotic use across an integrated healthcare system on 12 randomly-selected days between October 1, 2017 and September 30, 2018. Inpatients and perioperative patients were recorded as having received an antibiotic if they were administered ≥1 dose of a systemic antibacterial agent. Outpatients were recorded as having received an antibiotic if they were prescribed ≥1 systemic antibacterial agent. Results On the study days, 10.9% (95% CI 10.6–11.3%) of patients received an antibiotic. Of all antibiotics administered or prescribed, 54.1% were from ambulatory care (95% CI 52.6–55.7%), 38.0% were from the hospital, (95% CI 36.6–39.5%), and 7.8% (95% CI 7.1–7.8%) were perioperative. The emergency department/urgent care centers, adult outpatient clinics, and adult noncritical care inpatient wards accounted for 26.4% (95% CI: 25.0–27.7%), 23.8% (95% CI: 22.6–25.2), and 23.9% (95% CI 22.7–25.3) of antibiotic use, respectively. Only 9.2% (95% CI: 8.3–10.1%) of all antibiotics were administered in critical care units. Antibiotics with a broad spectrum of Gram-negative activity accounted for 30.4% (95% CI: 29.0–31.9%) of all antibiotics prescribed. Infections of the respiratory tract were the leading indication for antibiotic use. Conclusion In an integrated healthcare system, nearly three-quarters of antibiotic use occurred in the emergency department/urgent care centers, adult outpatient clinics, and adult noncritical care inpatient wards. Antibiotics with a broad spectrum of Gram-negative activity accounted for a large portion of antibiotic use. Analysis of antibiotic utilization across the spectrum of inpatient and ambulatory care is useful to prioritize antibiotic stewardship efforts. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

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Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community antibiotic prescribing in Scotland

JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

10.1093/jacamr/dlaa105 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

Author(s):

William Malcolm ◽

Ronald A Seaton ◽

Gail Haddock ◽

Linsey Baxter ◽

Sarah Thirlwell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Infections ◽

Age Groups ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Prescription Data ◽

National Data ◽

Time Data ◽

Electronic Messaging ◽

The Impact ◽

Selection Of

Abstract Background Following concerns about increased antibiotic use during the COVID-19 pandemic, trends in community antibiotic prescriptions in Scotland were evaluated. Methods The primary care prescription electronic messaging system used in GP practices with NHS contracts provided near real-time data analysis of national data. The main outcome measures were the weekly number of prescriptions for antibiotics generated by prescribers in GP practices in 2020 compared with 2019. Results At end of Week 12 2020 (22 March), after a sharp increase, the number of prescriptions commonly used for respiratory infections was 44% higher than the corresponding week in 2019. The number of prescriptions for respiratory antibiotics reduced through April and May 2020, with 34% fewer prescriptions issued by end of Week 22 (31 May) than in the corresponding week in 2019. Reductions were pronounced in all age groups but particularly apparent for prescriptions for children aged 0–4 years. These data were compared with weekly prescriptions for a selection of non-respiratory antibiotics and no difference was seen between 2020 and 2019. Conclusions Trends in antibiotic prescription data show that after an initial surge, and following ‘lockdown’ in Scotland, the total number of prescriptions for antibiotics commonly used for respiratory infections fell. We believe this is the first published national evaluation of the impact of COVID-19 on community use of antibiotics. Further analysis of national data is planned to provide a greater understanding of the reasons behind these trends.

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Patient Knowledge and Experiences With Antibiotic Use and Delayed Antibiotic Prescribing in the Outpatient Setting

Journal of Pharmacy Practice ◽

10.1177/0897190019889427 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 089719001988942 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mary Beth A. Seipel ◽

Emily S. Prohaska ◽

Janelle F. Ruisinger ◽

Brittany L. Melton

Keyword(s):

Antibiotic Stewardship ◽

General Public ◽

Community Pharmacists ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Outpatient Setting ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Patient Knowledge ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Chi Square ◽

Cross Sectional

Background: Most antibiotic prescriptions originate in the outpatient setting and an estimated 30% are unnecessary. Pharmacists are well positioned to positively impact antibiotic prescribing habits; the role of the community pharmacist in outpatient antibiotic stewardship programs is not well defined. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to (1) assess the knowledge of the general public regarding appropriate antibiotic use, and (2) assess the experiences of the general public regarding delayed antibiotic prescriptions. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered at community pharmacies in Kansas from September 2018 to January 2019. Eligible individuals were older than 18 years and self-reported their ability to speak and read English. The 22-item survey collected demographics, knowledge regarding appropriate antibiotic use, and participant understanding and experiences of delayed antibiotic prescribing. Descriptive statistics assessed demographics and chi-square compared responses between demographics. Results: Of 347 surveys completed, respondents were mainly Caucasian (91.6%), female (58.2%), and aged 60 years or older (59.1%). Those with high school education or below were more likely to believe antibiotics kill viruses (43.1% vs 20.9%, respectively; p < 0.01) and that antibiotics work on most coughs and colds (31.4% vs 16.2%, respectively; p = 0.01). Delayed antibiotic prescriptions were more frequently offered to those who had received an antibiotic prescription in the last year compared to those who had not (36.1% vs 15%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Gaps in patient knowledge about appropriate antibiotic use and delayed prescribing present an opportunity for community pharmacists to educate patients and become involved in outpatient antibiotic stewardship.

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Pharmacy-Based Intervention to Reduce Antibiotic Use for Acute Bronchitis

Annals of Pharmacotherapy ◽

10.1177/106002800303700204 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 37 (2) ◽

pp. 187-191 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

David E Hickman ◽

Marilyn R Stebbins ◽

John R Hanak ◽

B Joseph Guglielmo

Keyword(s):

Intervention Program ◽

Acute Bronchitis ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Urgent Care ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Group Model ◽

Community Based ◽

Health Maintenance ◽

Physician Group ◽

The Impact

BACKGROUND: Intervention programs can reduce inappropriate antibiotic use for the treatment of acute bronchitis in a closed health maintenance organization model. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of a pharmacy-based intervention program intended to reduce antibiotic use in the treatment of acute bronchitis in a community-based physician group model. SUBJECTS: Adult and pediatric patients with an office or urgent care visit for acute bronchitis during the baseline and study periods were included in the study. The clinicians were primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants in a suburban community-based physician group setting. METHODS: All patients treated for acute bronchitis from January 1 through June 30, 1998, were evaluated for initial receipt of antibiotics and use of clinic resources (office visits, additional antibiotics). From September through December of 1998, physicians were provided literature from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cough and cold package inserts, and newsletters intended to educate the providers regarding the inappropriateness of antibiotics in the treatment of acute bronchitis. Patient-directed literature from the CDC was placed in the examination rooms and clinic waiting areas beginning September 1998. From January 1 through June 30, 1999, all patients treated for acute bronchitis were assessed for receipt of antibiotics and use of clinic resources. A separate geographic clinic site served as a control during both study periods. RESULTS: During 1998, 888 of 1840 patients (48.3%) received antibiotics for treatment of acute bronchitis; this total decreased to 924 of 2392 (38.6%; p ≤ 0.001) in 1999, a reduction of 20%. The rate of antibiotic prescribing in control patients was unchanged during the concomitant time periods (142/446, 31.8% vs. 102/321, 31.8%). The rate of subsequent physician visits was similar (8% vs. 9%) between patients receiving antibiotics and those who did not. However, significantly more patients initially receiving antibiotics required a subsequent antibiotic prescription (45/1812, 2.5% vs. 24/2420, 1.0%; p ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A pharmacy-based intervention program reduces the incidence of inappropriate antibiotic use in the treatment of acute bronchitis. Reduced antibiotic prescribing does not increase consumption of healthcare resources; patients who receive antibiotics for acute bronchitis are more likely to subsequently require additional antibiotic prescriptions. While a significant decrease in antibiotic use was realized, other interventions are required to further reduce the prevalence of antibiotic use in acute bronchitis.

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Evaluation of antibiotic prescribing in emergency departments and urgent care centers across the Veterans’ Health Administration

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1017/ice.2020.1289 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

James L. Lowery ◽

Bruce Alexander ◽

Rajeshwari Nair ◽

Brett H. Heintz ◽

Daniel J. Livorsi

Keyword(s):

Emergency Departments ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Veterans Health Administration ◽

Urgent Care ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Veterans Health ◽

Health Administration ◽

Urgent Care Centers ◽

Exacerbation Of Copd

Abstract Objective: Assessments of antibiotic prescribing in ambulatory care have largely focused on viral acute respiratory infections (ARIs). It is unclear whether antibiotic prescribing for bacterial ARIs should also be a target for antibiotic stewardship efforts. In this study, we evaluated antibiotic prescribing for viral and potentially bacterial ARIs in patients seen at emergency departments (EDs) and urgent care centers (UCCs). Design: This retrospective cohort included all ED and UCC visits by patients who were not hospitalized and were seen during weekday, daytime hours during 2016–2018 in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Guideline concordance was evaluated for viral ARIs and for 3 potentially bacterial ARIs: acute exacerbation of COPD, pneumonia, and sinusitis. Results: There were 3,182,926 patient visits across 129 sites: 80.7% in EDs and 19.3% in UCCs. Mean patient age was 60.2 years, 89.4% were male, and 65.6% were white. Antibiotics were prescribed during 608,289 (19.1%) visits, including 42.7% with an inappropriate indication. For potentially bacterial ARIs, guideline-concordant management varied across clinicians (median, 36.2%; IQR, 26.0–52.7) and sites (median, 38.2%; IQR, 31.7–49.4). For viral ARIs, guideline-concordant management also varied across clinicians (median, 46.2%; IQR, 24.1–68.6) and sites (median, 40.0%; IQR, 30.4–59.3). At the clinician and site levels, we detected weak correlations between guideline-concordant management for viral ARIs and potentially bacterial ARIs: clinicians (r = 0.35; P = .0001) and sites (r = 0.44; P < .0001). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that, across EDs and UCCs within VHA, there are major opportunities to improve management of both viral and potentially bacterial ARIs. Some clinicians and sites are more frequently adhering to ARI guideline recommendations on antibiotic use.

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