1880. Reducing Antibiotic Prescribing for Acute Bronchitis in Outpatient Settings Using a Multifaceted Approach

Abstract

BackgroundNebraska (NE) ranks among the highest states for per capita antibiotic (AB) use in outpatient (OP) settings. Nebraska Medicine (NM) partnered with NE Antimicrobial Stewardship Assessment and Promotion Program (ASAP), a program funded by NE DHHS via a CDC grant, to reduce AB prescribing for acute bronchitis in OP settings.MethodsThe antimicrobial stewardship (AS) pilot program targeted NM OP clinics during winter 2018. All OP facility clinicians were notified of the availability of online AS educational videos. In addition, 5 primary care clinics (PCC) received clinician-directed interventions that included acute respiratory infection management pocket guides and posters for display in workrooms. Another 5 PCC received both clinician- and patient-directed interventions (examination room patient empowerment posters, Be Antibiotic Aware pledge cards and brochures). We compared AB prescribing rates for acute bronchitis between January and April 2017 and January and April 2018 among the 2 PCC groups and a control group of 5 immediate care clinics/emergency departments (ICC/ED). Clinicians in all 10 PCC were surveyed to assess usefulness of the AS campaign.ResultsA total of 593 acute bronchitis diagnosis encounters were included. AB prescribing rates for acute bronchitis for the 15 sites decreased from 53.7% to 43.6% (P = 0.02). Prescribing rates were unchanged in ICC/ED that received only notification of online educational videos (40.8% vs. 41.5%, P = 1.00) but were reduced in clinics that received clinician-directed (74.5% vs. 33.3%, P < 0.01) and patient-directed (61.1% vs. 48.8%, P = 0.07) interventions. Azithromycin was the most commonly prescribed AB (31.5% in 2017 and 29.8% in 2018). After the AS campaign, only the clinician-directed intervention group saw a reduction in azithromycin prescribing (33.3% vs. 13.9%, P < 0.05). Out of 51 clinicians who completed the survey, 45.1% felt campaign tools facilitated meaningful discussion with patients. Workroom posters and pocket guides were reported by 47.1% and 39.2% to be somewhat or extremely helpful, respectively.ConclusionThis OP AS campaign led to a significant reduction in AB prescribing. Successful OP AS campaigns need multifaceted approaches but targeted clinician interventions appear most beneficial.Disclosures All Authors: No reported Disclosures.