A Quality Improvement Initiative to Reduce Antibiotic Use in Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn

Overview

Journal J Perinatol

Specialty Gynecology & Obstetrics

Date 2023 Dec 20

PMID 38123798

Authors

Liana Senaldi

Lauren Blatt

Jin-Young Han

Giselle Gozum

Susan L Venturini

Sherrie Hauft

Vivien Yap

Karen P Acker

Snezana Nena Osorio

Priyanka Tiwari

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: Evidence suggests that antibiotics are unnecessary in infants with transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) that are low-risk for early-onset sepsis. The aim was to reduce ampicillin and gentamicin days of therapy (DOT) in infants with suspected TTN by 10% within 12 months.

Study Design: We used the Model for Improvement to test interventions from August 2019 to September 2021 to decrease antibiotic utilization in low-risk infants with TTN. Interventions included the creation of an evidence-based clinical pathway, admission huddles, and prescriber audit and feedback.

Results: We reduced ampicillin and gentamicin use by 26% and 23%, respectively. In 123 infants with suspected TTN, we sequentially decreased starting antibiotics in this group from 71% to 41%, 13% and 0%. There were no cases of missed bacteremia.

Conclusion: Creation of a multidisciplinary antimicrobial stewardship QI team and subsequent interventions were successful in safely reducing antibiotic use in infants with TTN.

Citing Articles

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