• Shivali K Patel, Ramy H Elshaboury, Ronak G Gandhi, Bryan D Hayes, Brian J Yun, and Jennifer L Koehl.
• Department of Pharmacy, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
• J Emerg Med. 2020 Feb 1; 58 (2): 203-210.

BackgroundPoor adherence to evidence-based guidelines and overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics has been noted in the emergency department (ED). There is limited evidence on guideline-congruent empiric therapy for urinary tract infections (UTIs) and uropathogen susceptibilities in the ED observation unit (EDOU).ObjectiveThe primary objective was to evaluate the prescribing patterns for the empiric treatment of UTI in the EDOU. Secondary objectives were to analyze uropathogen susceptibilities in the EDOU and implement an algorithm for the empiric treatment of UTI.MethodsThis study retrospectively reviewed adult patients who received empiric UTI treatment in the EDOU from January 1, 2018 to April 1, 2018. Eligible patients were categorized as having either uncomplicated or complicated cystitis, or pyelonephritis based on their clinical diagnosis. Antimicrobial therapy was evaluated in accordance with national practice guidelines, institutional guidelines, and local antimicrobial susceptibility patterns.ResultsPatients with uncomplicated or complicated cystitis (n = 115) were provided guideline-congruent empiric treatment in 87% of cases. Patients with pyelonephritis (n = 35) were provided guideline-congruent empiric treatment in 57% of cases. Susceptibility patterns of uropathogens isolated from this patient sample differed slightly from the institutional antibiogram, notably depicting a lower Escherichia coli susceptibility rate. Fluoroquinolones were prescribed for a longer than recommended duration in 18 patients (60%).ConclusionsThe majority of patients in this study were provided guideline-congruent empiric therapy. Nevertheless, there are opportunities to optimize empiric UTI treatment and improve antibiotic stewardship in the EDOU.Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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