Telemedicine-based antibiotic stewardship program in pediatrics: study protocol of a stepped wedge cluster randomized...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric infectious disease management
• Public health and global health security
• Digital health and telemedicine applications

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance is a significant global health threat, driven by antibiotic overuse, especially in children.
• Antibiotic stewardship programs (ASP) are effective but limited to large German hospitals.
• Telemedicine offers a potential solution for implementing ASP in non-university pediatric settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a telemedicine-based antibiotic stewardship program prototype.
• To promote rational antibiotic use in pediatric departments of non-university hospitals in Germany.
• To improve the quality of medical care for infections in children.

Main Methods:

• A stepped-wedge cluster-randomized trial (TeleKasper study) across non-university children's hospitals in Germany.
• Intervention involves a telemedical consultation network using a dedicated app.
• Primary outcome: 20% reduction in antibiotic consumption (defined daily doses per 100 patient days).

Main Results:

• The study is designed to measure the impact of the telemedical ASP on antibiotic consumption.
• Expected outcome is a significant reduction in overall antibiotic use.
• Data will be collected and analyzed to assess the program's effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• The TeleKasper study will provide a scalable model for nationwide antibiotic stewardship.
• Telemedicine can bridge the gap in ASP implementation in non-university pediatric settings.
• This initiative aims to enhance antibiotic use and patient care across Germany.