Implementation of a Stewardship Initiative on Respiratory Viral PCR‐based Antibiotic Deescalation

Abstract

A third of patients receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics with a positive RV PCR had an opportunity for antimicrobial optimization, although this did not translate into a significant impact on the time to antibiotic deescalation or overall antibiotic use. Combination of RV PCR results with biomarkers to rule out bacterial coinfections and chest radiographic findings may help enhance the likelihood of accepted antibiotic deescalation recommendations and represents an area of future research.