Use of a Telemedicine Team to Improve Guideline-Based Antibiotic Prescribing.

Objectives: Assessing the impact of a virtual antibiotic team (VAT) on appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing behavior of older care physicians, regarding urinary tract (UTI), respiratory tract (RTI), and skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI), in residents of long-term care facilities (LTCF).

Design: Before-after trial; introduction of a VAT consisting of a clinical microbiologist, older care physician, and a pharmacist.

Setting And Participants: Eight LTCFs in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.