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. 2014 Feb 3;9(2):e87899.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087899. eCollection 2014.

Effect of a stewardship intervention on adherence to uncomplicated cystitis and pyelonephritis guidelines in an emergency department setting

Michelle T Hecker  1 , Clinton J Fox  2 , Andrea H Son  3 , Rita K Cydulka  4 , Jonathan E Siff  4 , Charles L Emerman  4 , Ajay K Sethi  5 , Christine P Muganda  5 , Curtis J Donskey  6
Affiliations

Effect of a stewardship intervention on adherence to uncomplicated cystitis and pyelonephritis guidelines in an emergency department setting

Michelle T Hecker et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate adherence to uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI) guidelines and UTI diagnostic accuracy in an emergency department (ED) setting before and after implementation of an antimicrobial stewardship intervention.

Methods: The intervention included implementation of an electronic UTI order set followed by a 2 month period of audit and feedback. For women age 18-65 with a UTI diagnosis seen in the ED with no structural or functional abnormalities of the urinary system, we evaluated adherence to guidelines, antimicrobial use, and diagnostic accuracy at baseline, after implementation of the order set (period 1), and after audit and feedback (period 2).

Results: Adherence to UTI guidelines increased from 44% (baseline) to 68% (period 1) to 82% (period 2) (P≤.015 for each successive period). Prescription of fluoroquinolones for uncomplicated cystitis decreased from 44% (baseline) to 14% (period 1) to 13% (period 2) (P<.001 and P = .7 for each successive period). Unnecessary antibiotic days for the 200 patients evaluated in each period decreased from 250 days to 119 days to 52 days (P<.001 for each successive period). For 40% to 42% of cases diagnosed as UTI by clinicians, the diagnosis was deemed unlikely or rejected with no difference between the baseline and intervention periods.

Conclusions: A stewardship intervention including an electronic order set and audit and feedback was associated with increased adherence to uncomplicated UTI guidelines and reductions in unnecessary antibiotic therapy and fluoroquinolone therapy for cystitis. Many diagnoses were rejected or deemed unlikely, suggesting a need for studies to improve diagnostic accuracy for UTI.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: C.J.D. has received research funding for his institution from Pfizer, Merck, GOJO, and STERIS. This does not alter the authors' adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Percentage of cases adherent to UTI guidelines at baseline and during the tiered stewardship intervention.
The percentages in the boxes are the average of the 4 time points during each period.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Percentage of cases deemed unlikely or rejected at baseline and during the tiered stewardship intervention.
The percentages in the boxes are the average of the 4 time points during each period.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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