An Antibiotic Stewardship Program within Telehealth to Decrease Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescriptions in Acute Uncomplicated Bronchitis
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Purpose: Implement and evaluate an antibiotic stewardship program developed by the CDC within the telehealth setting to reduce the rate of antibiotic prescriptions by providers for uncomplicated bronchitis. Methods: A quality improvement study was employed within a telehealth practice platform in the Tampa, Florida area. A pre-intervention assessment of the provider’s antibiotic prescribing rates for bronchitis was conducted. Implementation included utilization of tools provided by the CDC and a presentation on evidence-based antibiotic prescribing practice guidelines. Post-intervention analysis included an audit with feedback method over a span of three months that assessed provider antibiotic prescribing rates for bronchitis. Results: There was a 22.1% decrease from pre-intervention to post-intervention antibiotics prescribed for acute bronchitis. A chi-square test of independence was performed to examine the relationship between antibiotics prescribed for bronchitis and the implementation ofan antibiotic stewardship program. The relation between these variables was significant, X2 (1, N= 175) = 13.8829, p = .000195. Antibiotics were less likely to be prescribed for bronchitis after the implementation of an antibiotic stewardship program in this setting. Discussion: Results demonstrated that when antibiotic stewardship programs guided by the CDC are implemented and followed, decreased use of antibiotics can result. This project was limited due to sample size and implementation period. Conclusions: Implementing an antibiotic stewardship program framed by the CDC within a clinical site that entails provider education and audit with feedback on providers' prescribing practices was shown to accomplish the goal of decreasing the number of inappropriate antibiotics prescribed for bronchitis.