Association Between Outpatient Antibiotic Prescribing Practices and Community-Associated Clostridium difficile Infection

Abstract Background. Antibiotic use predisposes patients to Clostridium difficile infections (CDI), and approximately 32% of these infections are community-associated (CA) CDI. The population-level impact of antibiotic use on adult CA-CDI rates is not well described. Methods. We used 2011 active population- and laboratory-based surveillance data from 9 US geographic locations to identify adult CA-CDI cases, defined as C difficile-positive stool specimens (by toxin or molecular assay) collected from outpatients or from patients ≤3 days after hospital admission. All patients were surveillance area residents and aged ≥20 years with no positive test ≤8 weeks prior and no overnight stay in a healthcare facility ≤12 weeks prior. Outpatient oral antibiotic prescriptions dispensed in 2010 were obtained from the IMS Health Xponent database. Regression models examined the association between outpatient antibiotic prescribing and adult CA-CDI rates. Methods. Healthcare providers prescribed 5.2 million courses of antibiotics among adults in the surveillance population in 2010, for an average of 0.73 per person. Across surveillance sites, antibiotic prescription rates (0.50–0.88 prescriptions per capita) and unadjusted CA-CDI rates (40.7–139.3 cases per 100 000 persons) varied. In regression modeling, reducing antibiotic prescribing rates by 10% among persons ≥20 years old was associated with a 17% (95% confidence interval, 6.0%–26.3%; P = .032) decrease in CA-CDI rates after adjusting for age, gender, race, and type of diagnostic assay. Reductions in prescribing penicillins and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid were associated with the greatest decreases in CA-CDI rates. Conclusions and Relevance. Community-associated CDI prevention should include reducing unnecessary outpatient antibiotic use. A modest reduction of 10% in outpatient antibiotic prescribing can have a disproportionate impact on reducing CA-CDI rates.

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Antibiotic Prescribing for Dental Procedures in Community-Associated Clostridium difficile cases, Minnesota, 2009–2015

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofx162.001 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 (suppl_1) ◽

pp. S1-S1 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Maria Bye ◽

Tory Whitten ◽

Stacy Holzbauer

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Clostridium Difficile ◽

Medical Record ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Healthcare Facility ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Emerging Infections ◽

Active Population ◽

Dental Procedures

Abstract Background Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs) are the leading cause of healthcare-associated diarrhea. Two of the most significant risk factors for CDI are antibiotic use and healthcare exposure. Dentists write approximately 10% of all outpatient prescriptions in the USA; however, limited data are available regarding dental prescribing’s impact on CDI. We described characteristics of community-associated (CA) CDI cases following antibiotics for dental procedures. Methods The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) performs active population- and laboratory-based surveillance for CDI as part of the CDC’s Emerging Infections Program (EIP). A case was defined as a positive C. difficile toxin or molecular assay on a stool specimen from a person >1 years old without a positive test in the prior 8 weeks, living in one of the five EIP catchment counties. Cases were classified as CA if stool was collected ≤3 days of admission or as an outpatient, with no overnight stay in a healthcare facility in the past 12 weeks. Medical records were reviewed and interviews performed to assess CDI risk factors and potential exposures. Differences in antibiotic prescribing and documentation among CA CDI cases receiving dental procedures were explored. Results During 2009–2015, 2176 presumptive CA CDI cases were reported to MDH; 1626 (75%) were confirmed as CA and interviewed. In total, 926 (57%) were prescribed antibiotics and 136 (15%) for dental procedures. Cases prescribed antibiotics for dental procedures were significantly older (median age: 57 vs. 45 years, P < 0.001), more likely to be prescribed clindamycin (50% vs. 10%, P < 0.001), and less likely to be prescribed fluoroquinolones (6% vs. 19%, P < 0.001) and cephalosporins (7% vs. 30%, P < 0.001) than those prescribed antibiotics for other indications. Among cases who received antibiotics for a dental procedure, 31 (23%) reported antibiotics on interview which were also documented in the medical record and 46 (34%) reported antibiotics for any reason on interview without documentation in the medical record. Conclusion Dental antibiotic prescribing rates are likely underestimated. Stewardship programs should address dental prescribing and alert dentists to CDI subsequent to antibiotics prescribed for dental procedures. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

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2071. A Survey of Antibiotic Prescribing Practices Among Adult Primary Care Physicians in Idaho

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofz360.1751 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. S698-S698

Author(s):

Anubhav Kanwar ◽

Susan Heppler ◽

Karl Madaras-Kelly ◽

Martha Jaworski ◽

Curtis Donskey

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

Primary Care Physicians ◽

Healthcare Facility ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Prescription Data ◽

Prescribing Practices ◽

Diagnostic Uncertainty ◽

Test Ordering

Abstract Background Prescribing an antibiotic is a complex process involving an interplay of prescriber’s knowledge, diagnostic acumen and patient factors. Understanding the prescriber rationale is key to provide feedback which might improve appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing. Currently, there are limited data on prescribing and test ordering practices among primary care physicians. Methods We surveyed primary care physicians taking care of adults (age 18 years and above). Physicians were contacted through the Idaho State Medical Board by a one-time email containing the survey link. The survey consisted of 25 questions under 2 major themes of diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship (AS). It assessed physicians’ practice setting, ordering of diagnostic tests and antibiotics for common infections, delivery of patient education regarding antibiotics, availability of antibiogram and antimicrobial stewardship services, and assessment of penicillin allergy. Two infectious diseases physicians independently reviewed the results for appropriateness of testing and antibiotic prescribing per IDSA guidelines. Results Of 929 physicians surveyed, 157 (17%) responded. Of the respondents, 95 (61%) were male, the mean age was 50 years, and 72% worked in outpatient settings and were family medicine specialists. Only 55% of physicians reported having an AS program at their healthcare facility. Test-of-cure for C. difficile infection (24%) and UTI (13%) and use of superficial culture data to guide the treatment of osteomyelitis (27%) were the most common reasons for inappropriate testing. Longer than recommended duration, antibiotic combinations with overlap of spectrum, and guideline-discordant indications for prescribing antibiotics were the main reasons for inappropriate antibiotic use. The main factors influencing the decision to prescribe an antibiotic were diagnostic uncertainty (42%), being unsure of patient follow-up (23%) and cost of testing (21%). Conclusion The survey results highlight the need for prescriber education for decreasing inappropriate test ordering and antibiotic prescribing. Additional studies involving a review of patient records, lab and prescription data are needed to confirm these practices. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

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A retrospective audit of antibiotic prescriptions in a Lebanese Hospital

International Journal of Infection Control ◽

10.3396/ijic.v15i1.001.19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mohamad Ibrahim ◽

Zeinab Bazzi

Keyword(s):

Epidemiological Data ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Team Approach ◽

Strong Correlations ◽

Prescribing Practices ◽

Antimicrobial Drugs ◽

Stewardship Program ◽

Retrospective Audit ◽

Attending Physician

Despite the frequent alarms that have been published about the adverse effects of antibiotic use and misuse, physicians prescribe to patients approximately fifty percent of unnecessary antimicrobials. In an attempt to decrease the emergence of antimicrobial resistance and increase awareness, a team approach is required to address this prescribing phenomenon in a feasible manner. A retrospective study was done at a one-hundred-forty-bed hospital with a representative sample size of 368 patients. Patient data was collected and analyzed by a stewardship team. The overall antibiotic inappropriate rate was 45.8%, which is relatively high and consistent with the findings of other studies mentioned in the literature. This study aimed to provide baseline epidemiological data on the use of antibiotics in a Lebanese hospital and has revealed several notable patterns of antibiotic prescribing practices among Lebanese physicians such as the use of antimicrobial drugs example penicillin was consistently high. Strong correlations were identified between the type of attending physician and antibiotic appropriateness. These findings will be important in constructing an antimicrobial stewardship program to reduce antibiotic misuse.

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144. Little evidence of same-day, oral antibiotic prescribing at ambulatory surgery centers

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofaa439.189 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S82-S83

Author(s):

Laura M King ◽

Lauri Hicks ◽

Sarah Kabbani; Sharon Tsay ◽

Katherine E Fleming-Dutra

Keyword(s):

Surgical Procedures ◽

Ambulatory Surgery ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Oral Antibiotic ◽

Chi Square ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Ambulatory Surgery Centers ◽

National Public Health ◽

Course Length

Abstract Background The objective of our study was to describe oral antibiotic prescriptions associated with procedures in ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) to evaluate if there are major national opportunities to improve antibiotic use in this setting. Methods We identified surgical procedures in ASCs and oral antibiotic prescriptions in the IBM® MarketScan® Commercial 2018 database, a large convenience sample of privately-insured individuals aged < 65 years. We excluded visits with same-day hospitalizations and those with infectious diagnoses that may warrant antibiotic treatment. We included only antibiotic prescriptions dispensed on the same day as an ASC visit. We calculated the number of visits and oral antibiotic prescriptions and the percent of visits with oral antibiotic prescriptions overall, and by patient age group (< 18 and 18–64 years), antibiotic class, and procedure type. We also calculated median antibiotic course length. Across-group comparisons were evaluated using chi-square tests. Results In 2018, 918,127 ASC visits with surgical procedure codes were captured, of which 37,032 (4.0%) were associated with same-day oral antibiotic prescriptions. The percent of visits with antibiotic prescriptions was significantly higher among children compared to adults (9.4% vs 3.8%; p< 0.01); however, adults accounted for 89% of prescriptions. Respiratory/nasal and urinary tract system procedures were most frequently associated with antibiotic prescriptions (Figure). Median course length was 5 (interquartile range 3–7) days. The most common antibiotic class was cephalosporins (49.6% of prescriptions), followed by penicillins (12.6%) and fluoroquinolones (10.9%). Figure. Percent of ambulatory surgery center visits with same-day antibiotic prescriptions by procedure category, IBM® MarketScan® Commercial Database, 2018 Conclusion Only 4% of ASC procedures were associated with same-day oral antibiotic prescriptions, suggesting antibiotics are not commonly prescribed in ASCs on the day of surgical procedures. Additionally, the observed 5-day median duration may suggest that some of these courses are intended for treatment rather than prophylaxis. Our estimates represent lower bounds for oral antibiotic prescriptions in this setting, as we only captured same-day prescriptions. However, our findings suggest that ASC facilities may not be high-impact targets for national, public health antibiotic stewardship efforts. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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Implementing interventions to reduce antibiotic use: a qualitative study in high-prescribing practices

BMC Family Practice ◽

10.1186/s12875-021-01371-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Aleksandra J. Borek ◽

◽

Anne Campbell ◽

Elle Dent ◽

Christopher C. Butler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Focus Groups ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Prescribing Practices ◽

Focus Group Study ◽

Clinical Uncertainty ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Clinical Tools ◽

The Many

Abstract Background Trials have shown that delayed antibiotic prescriptions (DPs) and point-of-care C-Reactive Protein testing (POC-CRPT) are effective in reducing antibiotic use in general practice, but these were not typically implemented in high-prescribing practices. We aimed to explore views of professionals from high-prescribing practices about uptake and implementation of DPs and POC-CRPT to reduce antibiotic use. Methods This was a qualitative focus group study in English general practices. The highest antibiotic prescribing practices in the West Midlands were invited to participate. Clinical and non-clinical professionals attended focus groups co-facilitated by two researchers. Focus groups were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Results Nine practices (50 professionals) participated. Four main themes were identified. Compatibility of strategies with clinical roles and experience – participants viewed the strategies as having limited value as ‘clinical tools’, perceiving them as useful only in ‘rare’ instances of clinical uncertainty and/or for those less experienced. Strategies as ‘social tools’ – participants perceived the strategies as helpful for negotiating treatment decisions and educating patients, particularly those expecting antibiotics. Ambiguities – participants perceived ambiguities around when they should be used, and about their impact on antibiotic use. Influence of context – various other situational and practical issues were raised with implementing the strategies. Conclusions High-prescribing practices do not view DPs and POC-CRPT as sufficiently useful ‘clinical tools’ in a way which corresponds to the current policy approach advocating their use to reduce clinical uncertainty and improve antimicrobial stewardship. Instead, policy attention should focus on how these strategies may instead be used as ‘social tools’ to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use. Attention should also focus on the many ambiguities (concerns and questions) about, and contextual barriers to, using these strategies that need addressing to support wider and more consistent implementation.

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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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Prescribers’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors on Antibiotics, Antibiotic Use and Antibiotic Resistance in Jordan

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics10070858 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 858

Author(s):

Reema A. Karasneh ◽

Sayer I. Al-Azzam ◽

Mera Ababneh ◽

Ola Al-Azzeh ◽

Ola B. Al-Batayneh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antibiotic Resistance ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Prescribing Practices ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Attitudes And Behaviors ◽

And Behaviors ◽

Ease Of Access

More research is needed on the drivers of irrational antibiotic prescribing among healthcare professionals and to ensure effective prescribing and an adequate understanding of the issue of antibiotic resistance. This study aimed at evaluating prescribers’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviors about antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance. A cross-sectional study was conducted utilizing an online questionnaire and included physicians and dentists from all sectors in Jordan. A total of 613 prescribers were included (physicians n = 409, dentists n = 204). Respondents’ knowledge on effective use, unnecessary use or associated side effects of antibiotics was high (>90%), compared with their knowledge on the spread of antibiotic resistance (62.2%). For ease of access to the required guidelines on managing infections, and to materials that advise on prudent antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance, prescribers agreed in 62% and 46.1% of cases, respectively. 28.4% of respondents had prescribed antibiotics when they would have preferred not to do so more than once a day or more than once a week. Among respondents who prescribed antibiotics, 63.4% would never or rarely give out resources on prudent use of antibiotics for infections. The findings are of importance to inform antibiotic stewardships about relevant interventions aimed at changing prescribers’ behaviors and improving antibiotic prescribing practices.

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Antibiotic prescribing practices in three neonatology units in Kigali, Rwanda. – an observational study

African Health Sciences ◽

10.4314/ahs.v20i4.17 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 1646-54

Author(s):

Peter Thomas Cartledge ◽

Fidel Shofel Ruzibuka ◽

Florent Rutagarama ◽

Samuel Rutare ◽

Tanya Rogo

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Median Duration ◽

Neonatal Sepsis ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Second Line ◽

Prescribing Practices ◽

Urban District ◽

Membrane Rupture ◽

Significant Difference

Introduction: There is limited published data on antibiotic use in neonatal units in resource-poor settings. Objectives: This study sought to describe antibiotic prescribing practices in three neonatology units in Kigali, Rwanda. Methods: A multi-center, cross-sectional study conducted in two tertiary and one urban district hospital in Kigali, Rwan- da. Participants were neonates admitted in neonatology who received a course of antibiotics during their admission. Data collected included risk factors for neonatal sepsis, clinical signs, symptoms, investigations for neonatal sepsis, antibiotics prescribed, and the number of deaths in the included cohort. Results: 126 neonates were enrolled with 42 from each site. Prematurity (38%) followed by membrane rupture more than 18 hours (25%) were the main risk factors for neonatal sepsis. Ampicillin and Gentamicin (85%) were the most commonly used first-line antibiotics for suspected neonatal sepsis. Most neonates (87%) did not receive a second-line antibiotic. Cefotaxime (11%), was the most commonly used second-line antibiotic. The median duration of antibiotic use was four days in all sur- viving neonates (m=113). In neonates with negative blood culture and normal C-reactive protein (CRP), the median duration of antibiotics was 3.5 days; and for neonates, with positive blood cultures, the median duration was 11 days. Thirteen infants died (10%) at all three sites, with no significant difference between the sites. Conclusion: The median antibiotic duration for neonates with normal lab results exceeded the recommended duration mandated by the national neonatal protocol. We recommend the development of antibiotic stewardship programs in neo- natal units in Rwanda to prevent the adverse effects which may be caused by inappropriate or excessive use of antibiotics. Keywords: (MeSH): Antimicrobial stewardship; anti-bacterial agents; neonatal sepsis; sepsis; infant mortality; neonatal intensive care units; Africa; Rwanda.

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An Assessment of Inappropriate Antibiotic Use and Guideline Adherence for Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofy198 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (9) ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Michael J Durkin ◽

Matthew Keller ◽

Anne M Butler ◽

Jennie H Kwon ◽

Erik R Dubberke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Urinary Tract ◽

Urinary Tract Infections ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Emergency Department Visits ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Prescribing Practices ◽

Duration Of Treatment ◽

Minimal Impact ◽

Tract Infections ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background In 2011, The Infectious Diseases Society of America released a clinical practice guideline (CPG) that recommended short-course antibiotic therapy and avoidance of fluoroquinolones for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs). Recommendations from this CPG were rapidly disseminated to clinicians via review articles, UpToDate, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website; however, it is unclear if this CPG had an impact on national antibiotic prescribing practices. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of outpatient and emergency department visits within a commercial insurance database between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2013. We included nonpregnant women aged 18–44 years who had an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis code for a UTI with a concurrent antibiotic prescription. We performed interrupted time series analyses to determine the impact of the CPG on the appropriateness of the antibiotic agent and duration. Results We identified 654 432 women diagnosed with UTI. The patient population was young (mean age, 31 years) and had few comorbidities. Fluoroquinolones, nonfirstline agents, were the most commonly prescribed antibiotic class both before and after release of the guidelines (45% vs 42%). Wide variation was observed in the duration of treatment, with >75% of prescriptions written for nonrecommended treatment durations. The CPG had minimal impact on antibiotic prescribing behavior by providers. Conclusions Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing is common for the treatment of UTIs. The CPG was not associated with a clinically meaningful change in national antibiotic prescribing practices for UTIs. Further interventions are necessary to improve outpatient antibiotic prescribing for UTIs.

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Understanding antibiotic prophylaxis prescribing in pediatric surgical specialties

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1017/ice.2020.71 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (6) ◽

pp. 666-671

Author(s):

Sara M. Malone ◽

Natalie S. Seigel ◽

Jason G. Newland ◽

Jacqueline M. Saito ◽

Virginia R. McKay

Keyword(s):

Focus Groups ◽

Antibiotic Prophylaxis ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Implementation Strategies ◽

Interventional Cardiology ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Prescribing Practices ◽

Health Crisis ◽

Poor Outcomes

AbstractBackground:Overuse of antibiotics has caused secondary poor outcomes and has led to a current rate of antibiotic resistant infections that constitutes a public health crisis. In pediatric surgical specialties, children continue to receive unnecessary antibiotics.Objective:To understand the factors that contribute to pediatric surgeons’ decisions regarding the use of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis.Methods:Focus groups included pediatric proceduralists/surgeons from the following specialties: interventional cardiology, otolaryngology, orthopedic surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, and general surgery.Results:A total of 23 surgeons with a median of 9 years of experience (range, 0.5–29 years) participated in the focus groups that lasted 30–90 minutes each. Five themes emerged influencing beliefs about antibiotic prescribing practices: (1) reliance on previous experience and early education, (2) balancing antibiotic use with risk of infection, (3) uncertainty about the state of the scientific evidence, (4) understanding importance of communication and team collaboration, and (5) a prevalence of hospital-level concerns.Conclusions:Surgeons describe a complex set of factors that impact 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. Antimicrobial stewardship programs should work with surgeons to develop acceptable implementation strategies to optimize antibiotic prescribing.

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