Background: Increasing trends of antimicrobial resistance are observed around the world, driven in part by excessive use of antimicrobials. Limited access to diagnostics, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, contributes to diagnostic uncertainty, which may promote unnecessary antibiotic use. We investigated whether introducing a package of diagnostic tools, clinical algorithm, and training-and-communication messages could safely reduce antibiotic prescribing compared with current standard-of-care for febrile patients presenting to outpatient clinics in Uganda.

Methods: This was an open-label, multicenter, 2-arm randomized controlled trial conducted at 3 public health facilities (Aduku, Nagongera, and Kihihi health center IVs) comparing the proportions of antibiotic prescriptions and clinical outcomes for febrile outpatients aged ≥1 year. The intervention arm included a package of point-of-care tests, a diagnostic and treatment algorithm, and training-and-communication messages. Standard-of-care was provided to patients in the control arm.

Results: A total of 2400 patients were enrolled, with 49.5% in the intervention arm. Overall, there was no significant difference in antibiotic prescriptions between the study arms (relative risk [RR]: 1.03; 95% CI: .96-1.11). In the intervention arm, patients with positive malaria test results (313/500 [62.6%] vs 170/473 [35.9%]) had a higher RR of being prescribed antibiotics (1.74; 1.52-2.00), while those with negative malaria results (348/688 [50.6%] vs 376/508 [74.0%]) had a lower RR (.68; .63-.75). There was no significant difference in clinical outcomes.

Conclusions: This study found that a diagnostic intervention for management of febrile outpatients did not achieve the desired impact on antibiotic prescribing at 3 diverse and representative health facility sites in Uganda.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10368415PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciad341DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

intervention arm
12
package diagnostic
8
diagnostic tools
8
sites uganda
8
randomized controlled
8
controlled trial
8
algorithm training-and-communication
8
training-and-communication messages
8
antibiotic prescribing
8
antibiotic prescriptions
8

Similar Publications

Background And Purpose: Throwing a baseball involves intense exposure of the arm to high speeds and powerful forces, which contributes to an increasing prevalence of arm injuries among athletes. Traditional rigid exoskeletons and rehabilitation equipment frequently lack portability, safety, ergonomic design, and affordability. Traditional rehabilitation approaches frequently require therapist monitoring, resulting in therapy delays.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Information technologies may enhance our traditional perioperative teaching by providing more comprehensive information beyond the clinical visit. This quality improvement study aims to assess whether the implementation of an animated surgical video improves caregiver satisfaction for children undergoing adenotonsillectomy.

Study Design: Prospective, single-blinded randomized-controlled trial was conducted between March 1 and October 1, 2023.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To explore the safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) combined with a PD-1 antibody in improving complete clinical response (cCR) and organ preservation in patients with ultra-low rectal cancer.

Methods: This was a prospective phase II, single-arm, open-label trial. Patients with confirmed pMMR status T1-3aN0-1M0 retcal adenocarcinoma were included.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Psilocybin therapy (PT) produces rapid and persistent antidepressant effects in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the long-term effects of PT have never been compared with gold-standard treatments for MDD such as pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy alone or in combination.

Methods: This is a 6-month follow-up study of a phase 2, double-blind, randomised, controlled trial involving patients with moderate-to-severe MDD.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Gambling, though a popular social activity, can lead to addiction and cause significant harm. This study aimed to explore the experiences of 36 low-to-moderate risk gamblers (PGSI score 0-7; 31 male, 5 female; 10 per each intervention arm, 6 per control group) in the 'EROGamb 2.0' feasibility trial ( = 168).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!