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ANTIMICROBIAL UPDATE: OPTIMIZING PRESCRIBING FOR COMMON INFECTIONS
At the 2022 AAP National it was discussed how pediatric clinicians can employ best practices when prescribing medications for common childhood infections. Antibiotics can cause adverse events, microbiome alteration, C. difficile infections, and be costly for families, making choosing the right antibiotic for the right amount of time even more crucial. Uncertain diagnoses, decision fatigue, time constraints, and other circumstances can make optimal prescribing a challenge to clinicians.
Full Access: AAP
NEW WEBSITE HIGHLIGHTS HEALTH PLANS LEADING IN APPROPRIATE ANTIBIOTIC USE
In efforts to provide insights that improve prescribing and combat resistance, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has launched a website that highlights health plans that are high performers in appropriate antibiotic use. NCQA analyzed data from its Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) to identify health plans that are in or above the 85th percentile for appropriate prescribing in the United States.
Full Access: NCQA
WEEKLY U.S. INFLUENZA SURVEILLANCE REPORT
The CDC reports that flu and other respiratory illnesses are higher than what would normally be seen in the United States at this time of year. The agency has noted that flu activity is starting to increase across much of the country; especially in the Southeast and South Central U.S. This is the first FluView of the 2022-2023 influenza season. Influenza activity is low but increasing in most of the country.
Full Access: CDC
FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ADDITIONAL CLINIC VISITS IN THE TREATMENT OF SPORTS-RELATED CONCUSSION
Among athletes treated at a regional sports concussion center, family history of psychiatric disorders, increased symptom score at initial visit, prior concussions, and younger age were each uniquely associated with needing additional clinic visits at the time of initial assessment. Understanding these variables may guide treatment protocols for optimal care.
Full Access: Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine
EFFECT OF CEFEPIME/ENMETAZOBACTAM VS PIPERACILLIN/TAZOBACTAM ON CLINICAL CURE AND MICROBIOLOGICAL ERADICATION IN PATIENTS WITH COMPLICATED URINARY TRACT INFECTION OR ACUTE PYELONEPHRITIS
In this randomized clinical trial that included 1034 patients, the proportion of patients infected with gram-negative pathogens who achieved clinical cure and microbiological eradication at the test-of-cure visit was 79.1% with cefepime/enmetazobactam compared with 58.9% with piperacillin/tazobactam. Among patients with complicated UTI or acute pyelonephritis due to gram-negative pathogens treated with cefepime/enmetazobactam, met criteria for noninferiority as well as superiority with respect to the primary efficacy outcome of clinical cure and microbiological eradication.
Full Access: JAMA