Adopting Urinary Tract Infection Guidelines to Promote Antibiotic Stewardship in the Time of Telehealth Medicine

Abstract

Background:The most modifiable risk factor contributing to antibiotic resistance is the inappropriate prescription of antibiotics. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common outpatient infection in the United States, with increasing antimicrobial resistance to uropathogens. As empiric UTI treatment is often appropriate, telemedicine offers an opportunity to enhance practice by adopting current clinical practice guidelines.Objective:The project aims to improve appropriate first-line antibiotic choice and decrease urinalysis and urine culture orders in the telehealth management of uncomplicated UTIs.Methods:Chart reviews of women aged 18–65 years diagnosed with an uncomplicated UTI and/or symptoms during a telehealth primary care visit were conducted for a period of 30 days prior to and following a provider educational intervention.Results:Improvement (37.5%–62.1%,p= .133), though not significant, of appropriate first-line antibiotics prescribing postintervention was achieved. There was a minimal (3%) improvement in the appropriate urine labs ordered.Conclusion:Following the intervention, there was not a statistically significant practice change, albeit somewhat of an improvement in the ordering of first-line antibiotics. Adopting evidence-based practice in telehealth could provide an opportunity to improve antibiotic stewardship. Providers are potentially better engaged through the presence of champions, in-person education sessions, and the availability of streamlined algorithms.