Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Apr 2024
Communication Strategies to Improve Antibiotic Prescribing in Pediatric Urgent Care Centers.
Urgent care (UC) clinicians frequently prescribe inappropriate antibiotics for upper respiratory illnesses. In a national survey, pediatric UC clinicians reported family expectations as a primary driver for prescribing inappropriate antibiotics. Communication strategies effectively reduce unnecessary antibiotics while increasing family satisfaction. We aimed to reduce inappropriate prescribing practices in otitis media with effusion (OME), acute otitis media (AOM), and pharyngitis in pediatric UC clinics by a relative 20% within 6 months using evidence-based communication strategies. ⋯ Using templates to standardize communication with caregivers, a national collaborative decreased inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions for AOM and had downward trend in inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions for pharyngitis. Clinicians increased the inappropriate use of "watch and wait" antibiotics for OME. Future studies should evaluate barriers to the appropriate use of delayed antibiotic prescriptions.
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Pediatric emergency care · Apr 2024
Utility of Serum Amylase in Children With Abdominal Pain in the Pediatric Emergency Department.
Abdominal pain is among the most common chief complaints seen in pediatric emergency departments (PEDs). This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic utility of amylase and lipase in the evaluation of abdominal pain in the PED. ⋯ Although serum amylase and lipase testing may be suitable for abdominal pain screening, the concurrent use of both does not seem to add any clinically significant value to diagnosis.
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Pediatric emergency care · Apr 2024
Is Being Overweight a Risk Factor for Torsion of the Appendix Testis in Children?: A Paired Case-Control Study.
This study aimed to determine whether being overweight during childhood is a risk factor for torsion of the appendix testis (TAT). ⋯ Overweight increases the risk of being operated on because of TAT. Because obesity is a rising problem, a greater incidence of TAT remains to be proved.
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Pediatric emergency care · Apr 2024
Documented Penicillin Allergies on Antibiotic Selection at Pediatric Emergency Department Visits.
Penicillin or amoxicillin are the recommended treatments for the most common pediatric bacterial illnesses. Allergies to penicillin are commonly reported among children but rarely true. We evaluated the impact of reported penicillin allergies on broad-spectrum antibiotic use overall and for the treatment of common respiratory infections among treat-and-release pediatric emergency department (ED) visits. ⋯ Antibiotic stewardship efforts in pediatric EDs may consider the delabeling of penicillin allergies particularly among children receiving antibiotics for an acute respiratory infection as a target for intervention.
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Pediatric emergency care · Apr 2024
Emergency Department Arrival Modes: Time for Mandatory Pediatric Readiness.
Because small children can be transported by private vehicles, many children seek emergency care outside of Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Such transports may access the closest emergency departments (EDs) without knowledge of their pediatric competence. This study quantifies this practice and the concept of mandatory pediatric readiness. ⋯ Pediatric patients seeking ED care overwhelmingly arrive through a private mode regardless of the severity of their problem or type of ED in which treated. Emergency Medical Services programs and state hospital regulatory agencies need to recognize this practice and assure the pediatric competence of every ED within their system.