Antibiotic

Repeated antibiotic exposure in early childhood is associated with an increased likelihood of obesity and a higher mean BMI, according to results from a New Zealand study published in JAMA Network Open.

In this bimonthly column, pediatric infectious disease specialists Asif Noor, MD, FAAP, and Ulka Kothari, MD, share valuable insight on antimicrobial stewardship in pediatric outpatient settings and explain why it is important for your practice. Antimicrobial stewardship programs, or ASPs, have become a crucial intervention to spare patients and facilities from the burden of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, which are responsible for one death every 15 minutes, according to updated estimates from the CDC.

In this bimonthly column, pediatric infectious disease specialists Asif Noor, MD, FAAP, and Ulka Kothari, MD, share valuable insight on antimicrobial stewardship in pediatric outpatient settings and explain why it is important for your practice. Antimicrobial stewardship programs, or ASPs, have become a crucial intervention to spare patients and facilities from the burden of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, which are responsible for one death every 15 minutes, according to updated estimates from the CDC.

KOLOA, Hawaii — Despite mounting research, there is no FDA approved intracameral antibiotic for cataract surgery prophylaxis of infection in the United States, Francis S. Mah, MD, said at Hawaiian Eye 2020.

KOLOA, Hawaii — At Hawaiian Eye 2020, John P. Berdahl, MD, discusses the benefits of compounded medications that are unique to ophthalmology, such as fortified antibiotics for corneal ulcers and other pathologies for which there are no approved medications.

Less than 2% of health care providers account for 25% of all pediatric antibiotic prescriptions in Tennessee, according to a study published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.

Researchers found that real-time peer auditing reduced the rate of central-line-associated bloodstream infections in a North Caroline hospital by 12%. This was one of the top stories in infectious disease last week.

Less than half of pharmacies surveyed in California provided correct information on how to dispose of prescription opioids and antibiotics, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

In 2015, approximately 24 million antibiotic prescriptions in the United States lacked a documented indication and 32 million prescriptions were identified as inappropriate, according to data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey — indicating that nearly half of all prescriptions could be inappropriate.

A pharmacy-driven allergy assessment improved penicillin allergy documentation, increased the use of beta-lactam antibiotics and saved one hospital more than $21,000 over a 3-month period, according to prospective study findings that were presented at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition.