28 NICUs participating in a quality improvement collaborative targeting early-onset sepsis antibiotic use
Kurlen S.E. Payton, Mihoko V. Bennett, Joseph D. Schulman, W.E. Benitz, Lisa M. Stellwagen, Gary L. Darmstadt, Jenny Quinn, Alexandria I. Kristensen-Cabrera, Courtney C. Breault, Michael Bolaris, Linda Lefrak, Jeff Merrill, Paul J. Sharek
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: There is widespread overuse of antibiotics in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The objective of this study was to safely reduce antibiotic use in participating NICUs by targeting early-onset sepsis (EOS) management. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-eight NICUs participated in this statewide multicenter antibiotic stewardship quality improvement collaborative. The primary aim was to reduce the total monthly mean antibiotic utilization rate (AUR) by 25% in participant NICUs. RESULT: Aggregate AUR was reduced by 15.3% (p < 0.001). There was a wide range in improvement among participant NICUs. There were no increases in EOS rates or nosocomial infection rates related to the intervention. CONCLUSION: Participation in this multicenter NICU antibiotic stewardship collaborative targeting EOS was associated with an aggregate reduction in antibiotic use. This study informs efforts aimed at sustaining improvements in NICU AURs.