Impact of antibiotic choices made in the emergency department on appropriateness of antibiotic treatment of urinary tract infections in hospitalized patients

BACKGROUND: Overuse of antibiotics to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) is common in hospitalized patients and may begin in the emergency department (ED). METHODS: For a 4-week period we reviewed medical records of all patients admitted to the hospital who initiated treatment for a UTI in the ED. RESULTS: According to study criteria, initiation of antibiotics was inappropriate for 55 of 94 patients (59% [95% confidence interval (CI), 48%-69%]), and continuation after admission was inappropriate for 54 of 80 patients (68% [95% CI, 57%-78%]). CONCLUSION: Failure to reevaluate the need for antibiotics initiated in the ED to treat UTIs may lead to overuse of antibiotics in hospitalized patients.