EQIPP: Antibiotic Decision Making

Description

This course is eligible for a total of 100 ABP MOC 4 points.
Points can be claimed based on the number of tracks completed (25 MOC 4 points per completed track).

This course is designed to help guide clinicians on the judicious use of antibiotics based on accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of common pediatric infections. It provides information on how to educate families about appropriate antibiotic prescribing.

If recommendations for proper diagnosis and treatment of common pediatric conditions are followed, the quality of care for the child will improve and unnecessary antibiotic exposure, cost, and the emergence of antibiotic resistance will be reduced.

This course includes four tracks for data collection related to common infections seen in pediatric patients: viral upper respiratory infection, acute otitis media, Group A streptococcal pharyngitis, and acute bacterial sinusitis.

Course Goals:

The goals of this EQIPP course include:

• Become familiar with current guidelines and recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of common pediatric infections, including upper respiratory infection (URI), acute otitis media, group A streptococcal pharyngitis and acute bacterial sinusitis.
• Practice and promote antibiotic stewardship by prescribing antibiotics only when necessary and promoting the use of appropriate agent(s), dose, duration, and route of therapy to optimize clinical outcomes while minimizing the unintended consequences of antibiotic use.
• Identify areas of improvement needed in practice related to the diagnosis, treatment, and guidance offered to families regarding common pediatric infections and judicious antibiotic prescribing. Recognize barriers that may impede changes, identify processes/resources to overcome these barriers, and create plans for improvement. (You will collect baseline and follow-up data as you work to improve care and processes through Plan, Do, Study, and Act [PDSA] cycles.)

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, you will able to:

• Accurately diagnose and treat common pediatric infections, including upper respiratory infection (URI), acute otitis media, group A streptococcal pharyngitis, and acute bacterial sinusitis to ensure appropriate and effective treatment.
• Differentiate between viral and bacterial infections.
• Treat patients effectively, using antibiotics only when indicated and prescribed appropriately.

• Avoid misuse of antibiotics by not treating patients when antibiotics have no benefit.
• Prescribe narrow-spectrum antibiotics vs broad-spectrum antibiotics when viable to limit antibiotic resistance and unnecessary healthcare costs, while maintaining high-quality care.
• Identify dangers of inappropriate use of antibiotics.

• Develop a practice policy concerning judicious use and prescribing of antibiotics and communicate it to patients and and families.

• Provide information to patients and families about the benefits and risks of antibiotic use.
• Provide guidance and education to patients and families about the benefits of judicious use of antibiotics for mitigating antibiotic resistance and adverse events for patients.
• Respond effectively to patients and families when unnecessary antibiotics are requested.

• Assess the diagnostic and prescribing patterns of your practice.

Course Details

• Start Date: September 22, 2021
• Online Access Expires: September 21, 2025
• Credit Expires: September 21, 2025
• Activity Type: Asynchronous Online Course
• Course ID: 59465

Acknowledgements

No commercial support.

Faculty

Angela L. Myers MD, MPH

Ritu Banerjee, MD, PhD, FAAP

Jeffrey Stephen Gerber, MD PhD