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Can a Clinical Decision Tool Reduce Unnecessary Antibiotic Prescriptions in Children?

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Abstract

Practices were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention (n = 82) or the usual care (n = 89) group, a total of 6750 children (aged 6 months to 12 years, 51% boys) with acute illness were included, with 2988 in the intervention group (median age, 3.7 years) and 3762 in the usual care group (median age, 3.9 years). The clinical decision tool led to reduced antibiotic prescriptions at the index consultation, with 22% of children in the usual care group vs 16% of those in the intervention group prescribed antibiotics (adjusted odds ratio, 0.72, 95% CI, 0.55-0.94). No significant differences in recovery time were found between the intervention and usual care groups, and additional testing, follow-up visits, and antibiotic prescribing after the index consultation were also non-inferior in the intervention group. The point-of-care testing of C-reactive protein was attempted in 25% of children in the intervention group: 87% of those with a yes" response and 12% of those with a "no" response from the decision tree."
Key Data

  • Publication Date
    01 October 2025
  • Primary Author
    Manasi Talwadekar
  • Source
    American Heart Journal
  • Language
    English
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