Pre-Guideline Testing and Prescribing Patterns for Pediatric Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Diagnostic and treatment patterns support the need for the recent consensus guidelines on pediatric CAP.

Researchers evaluated diagnostic testing and antibiotic prescribing patterns before the 2011 publication of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society and Infectious Diseases Society of America consensus guidelines for pediatric community-acquired pneumonia (CAP; http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/08/30/cid.cir531.full.pdf+html). In a review of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care database from 2001 through 2009, the researchers identified 375,000 visits for children who were diagnosed with CAP and discharged from an emergency department (ED).

Overall, 85% of children were seen in general EDs and 15% in pediatric EDs; 61% of children were aged 1 to 4 years, 22% were 5 to 10, and 16% were 11 to 18.

Complete blood counts a…

Reviewing Author

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)

Pre-Guideline Testing and Prescribing Patterns for Pediatric Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Topics

Reviewing Author