Improving Antibiotic Prescribing for Acute Respiratory Illnesses

Practice Problem: Unwarranted antibiotic prescribing practices when treating acute respiratory illnesses contribute to the national health threat of antibiotic resistance. PICOT: In a pediatric outpatient setting for patients ages 6-25 who have no documented uncontrolled comorbidities, presenting with an acute respiratory illness (P), does provider utilization of clinical guidelines, and patient and (caregivers) utilization of educational pamphlets, to collectively develop a plan of care (I), compared to providers and patients who do not utilize such strategies(C) result in a reduction in antibiotics prescribed for acute respiratory illnesses (O) in a 6-week timeframe (T)? Evidence: The evidence reviewed reported the utilization of clinical treatment guidelines accompanied with patient education, and the collaborative formation of the plan of care when treating acute respiratory illnesses, resulted in a modest or profound reduction in antibiotics prescribed. Intervention: Provider usage of The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) clinical guidelines accompanied by patient education to collaboratively formulate the treatment plan for the management of patients presenting with acute respiratory illnesses. Outcome: Antibiotic prescribing rates when managing acute respiratory illness declined from 82% baseline to 42% post-intervention. Conclusion: Provider utilization of CDC clinical guidelines, with patient education to collectively formulate a management plan when treating acute respiratory illnesses resulted in a reduction in non-medically indicated antibiotic prescriptive practices