Cefdinir Use in the Kentucky Medicaid Population: A Priority for Outpatient Antimicrobial Stewardship

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Antimicrobial Stewardship
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Cefdinir is a commonly prescribed antibiotic for pediatric infections.
• There is a lack of established first-line indications for cefdinir in many pediatric cases.
• Understanding prescribing patterns is crucial for antimicrobial stewardship.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends in cefdinir prescription and associated healthcare spending in pediatric populations.
• To identify the primary indications for cefdinir use in children.
• To evaluate the appropriateness of cefdinir prescribing in pediatric care.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of Kentucky Medicaid claims data.
• Data collection spanned from 2012 to 2016.
• Prescription data and spending were quantified and analyzed over time.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in both cefdinir prescriptions and expenditures was observed during the study period.
• Upper respiratory infections represented the most frequent reason for cefdinir prescription.
• The findings suggest a high volume of cefdinir use, potentially including off-label indications.

Conclusions:

• Increased cefdinir use in pediatric patients, particularly for upper respiratory infections, warrants attention.
• Inappropriate cefdinir prescribing represents a significant area for antimicrobial stewardship interventions.
• Targeted stewardship efforts are necessary to optimize antibiotic use in pediatric populations.