Use of antidepressant medication in the United States during pregnancy, 2002-2010.

Objective: The authors analyzed prescribing for antidepressant medications during 27,328 prenatal visits in ambulatory settings in the United States between 2002 and 2010.

Methods: Data from the 2002-2010 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey were used to compare prescribing for antidepressant medication during visits for outpatient prenatal care between 2002-2006 and 2007-2010.

Results: Prenatal visits associated with a prescription for an antidepressant increased from .

Increased emergency department computed tomography use for common chest symptoms without clear patient benefits.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine changes in the utilization of computed tomography (CT) in the evaluation of common chest symptoms and the rate of clinically significant diagnoses in emergency departments after 2004.

Methods: This study analyzed the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, comparing 1997 to 1999 and 2005 to 2007. Set in US emergency departments, individuals older than 14 years old were eligible.

Observing the spread of common illnesses through a community: using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for surveillance.

Background: The recent implementation of electronic medical record systems allows for the development of systems to track common illness across a defined community. With the threats of bioterrorism and pandemic illness, syndromic surveillance methodologies have become an important area of study. There has been limited study of the application of syndromic surveillance techniques to communities for tracking common illnesses to improve health system resource allocation and inform communities.

Trends in prenatal cares settings: association with medical liability.

Background: Medical liability concerns centered around maternity care have widespread public health implications, as restrictions in physician scope of practice may threaten quality of and access to care in the current climate. The purpose of this study was to examine national trends in prenatal care settings based on medical liability climate.

Methods: Analysis of prenatal visits in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 1997 to 2004 (N = 21,454).

Trends in broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing for children with acute otitis media in the United States, 1998-2004.

Background: Overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics is associated with antibiotic resistance. Acute otitis media (AOM) is responsible for a large proportion of antibiotics prescribed for US children. Rates of broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing for AOM are unknown.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of treatment options for acute otitis media.

Purpose: This study evaluated the costs and utility of observation and routine antibiotic treatment options for children with acute otitis media.

Methods: The cost-effectiveness analysis was performed among children aged 6 months to 12 years seen in primary care offices. The interventions studied were watchful waiting as practiced in the Netherlands, delayed prescription, 5 days of amoxicillin, and 7 to 10 days of amoxicillin.

Comparison of two prevention strategies for neonatal group B streptococcal disease.

Background: Neonatal group B streptococcal disease is a serious infection, causing more than 2,000 cases of sepsis annually. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended two alternative strategies to prevent infection, but few data directly compare the two in terms of intrapartum antibiotic administration, protocol feasibility, newborn laboratory evaluation, and costs.

Methods: We collected data on intrapartum antibiotic administration, protocol compliance, newborn laboratory evaluation, and maternal-newborn length of stay for 347 mother-infant pairs in a family practice residency maternity service.