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Emergency department crowding and time to antibiotic administration in febrile infants

Jennifer K Light1, Robyn M Hoelle, Jill Boylston Herndon

  • 1University of Florida, College of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine Gainesville, Florida.

The Western Journal of Emergency Medicine
|October 10, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Delayed antibiotic administration in febrile newborns is common in general emergency departments (EDs). However, this study found no link between antibiotic timing and ED crowding, suggesting a need for standardized treatment guidelines.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Infectious Disease Management
  • Healthcare Operations

Background:

  • Early antibiotic administration is crucial for febrile newborns to prevent serious bacterial infections.
  • Most children in the US receive emergency care in general emergency departments (EDs), not specialized pediatric ones.
  • Understanding factors affecting antibiotic timing in these settings is vital.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between antibiotic administration time and emergency department (ED) crowding in febrile newborns.
  • To analyze this association in a general ED that serves both pediatric and adult patients.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of 159 newborns presenting to a general ED (2005-2011).
  • Analysis of the association between time to antibiotic administration and ED occupancy rates.
  • Evaluation of occupancy rates at, before, and after infant presentation.

Main Results:

  • Delayed and variable antibiotic administration times were observed in febrile newborns.
  • No significant association was found between antibiotic administration time and ED occupancy rate.
  • Antibiotic timing did not correlate with hospital length of stay or inpatient mortality.

Conclusions:

  • Delayed antibiotic treatment for febrile newborns is prevalent in general EDs but not linked to crowding.
  • Variability in ED practice patterns for antibiotic administration was noted.
  • Developing standardized guidelines for timely antibiotic administration in this population is recommended.
Abstract

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