A study published in Pediatrics found there are significant gaps between CDC recommendations for improving antibiotic use practices and antibiotic stewardship programs for newborns.
Researchers collected data using a cross-sectional audit of Vermont Oxford Network members in February 2016. They assessed centers using patient-level measures as well as unit measures derived from the seven domains of the CDC's Core Elements of Hospital ASPs: leadership commitment, accountability, drug expertise, action, tracking, reporting and education.
In all, 143 centers completed structured self-assessments. No center addressed all seven core elements, and only accountability (55 percent) and drug expertise (62 percent) had compliance greater than 50 percent.
Additionally, of the 412 patients who received antibiotics for more than 48 hours, only 26 percent had positive culture results.
More articles on healthcare quality:
ED crowding linked to delayed antibiotics for sepsis, study finds
Detroit hospital cited after insects found in ICU
2nd pediatric flu death reported in 2018-19 season