Name: Evaluating the Impact of Provider Education on Empiric Antibiotic Use for Low-Risk Intra-abdominal Infections at a Community Hospital
Start: 2026-05-01T11:00:00-0400
End: 2026-05-01T11:20:00-0400

Evaluating the Impact of Provider Education on Empiric Antibiotic Use for Low-Risk Intra-abdominal Infections at a Community Hospital

Friday May 1, 2026 11:00am - 11:20am EDT

Athena G

Background:

Intra-abdominal infections (IAIs) are a frequent cause of hospitalization which occasionally require empiric broad-spectrum antibiotic use. Despite current guidelines indicating that P. aeruginosa is uncommon in low-risk, community-acquired IAI, antipseudomonal agents remain frequently prescribed. This unnecessary use increases risks of nephrotoxicity, resistance, and higher healthcare costs.2 For low-risk patients without significant comorbidities, healthcare exposure, or septic shock, narrower regimens are recommended.1 Persistent inappropriate prescribing highlights an opportunity for targeted antimicrobial stewardship interventions to optimize empiric therapy, improve patient outcomes, and reduce unnecessary broad-spectrum exposure.

Objectives:

Evaluate the impact of pharmacy-led provider education on reducing inappropriate antipseudomonal antibiotic use in patients with low-risk intra-abdominal infections

Primary outcome: Percentage difference of patients receiving antipseudomonal antibiotics before and after the intervention

Secondary outcomes: Days of therapy (DOT) per 1,000 patient days, hospital length of stay, incidence of C. difficile infection, and identification of P. aeruginosa on culture during hospitalization, impact of infectious disease (ID consult) on de-escalation

Methods:

Retrospective chart review approved by the local Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Chart review to evaluate empiric antibiotic use in adult patients with low-risk intra-abdominal infections (IAIs), as defined by the 2024 Surgical Infection Society guidelines.

During the pre-intervention period between May 1st, 2025 and September 30th, 2025, patients are assessed for documented infection diagnosis and empiric antibiotic selection to determine the frequency of antipseudomonal antibiotic use. Data gathered from this review is used to develop an educational presentation for hospitalist providers to highlight recommended therapy for low-risk IAI.

A post-intervention chart review between November 1st, 2025 and March 30th, 2026 will be performed to reassess prescribing practices

Inclusion criteria

Age ≥18

Admitted to Baptist Health Lexington with primary diagnosis of diverticulitis, peritonitis, cholecystitis, cholangitis, pancreatitis, or appendicitis

Received antimicrobial therapy

Exclusion criteria

Pregnant or incarceration. Met criteria for high-risk infection (admitted to ICU during hospital stay, required surgical intervention, received IV antibiotics in previous 90 days, recent Pseudomonas culture, immunocompromised, post-operative infection or inadequate source control, age ≥ 80)

Results:

Baseline characteristics were similar between pre- and post-intervention groups, with diverticulitis most common. The educational intervention did not significantly reduce inappropriate antipseudomonal use, which remained high. A numerical decrease in overall antimicrobial exposure was observed but was not statistically significant. No C. difficile testing or P. aeruginosa cultures were identified. Antimicrobial use shifted overall, driven by reduced ertapenem use, while other broad-spectrum agents remained common. Infectious disease consultation was associated with higher rates of de-escalation.

Conclusions:

Provider education alone did not significantly reduce inappropriate antipseudomonal use in low-risk IAI. Persistent broad-spectrum prescribing suggests the need for more active stewardship strategies. The absence of P. aeruginosa supports guideline recommendations, and the impact of ID consultation highlights the value of multidisciplinary involvement.

References

The Surgical Infection Society Guidelines on the Management of Intra-Abdominal Infection: 2024 Update Jared M. Huston, Philip S. Barie, E. Patchen Dellinger, Joseph D. Forrester, Therese M. Duane, Jeffrey M. Tessier, Robert G. Sawyer, Miguel A. Cainzos, Kemal Rasa, Jeffrey G. Chipman, Lillian S. Kao, Frederic M. Pieracci, Kristin P. Colling, Daithi S. Heffernan, Janice Lester, and Therapeutics and Guidelines Committee

Lodise TP, Izmailyan S, Olesky M, Lawrence K. An Evaluation of Treatment Patterns and Associated Outcomes Among Adult Hospitalized Patients With Lower-Risk Community-Acquired Complicated Intra-abdominal Infections: How Often Are Expert Guidelines Followed? Open Forum Infect Dis. 2020 Jun 19;7(7):ofaa237. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofaa237. PMID: 32676511; PMCID: PMC7353956.

Moderators

Tate Owens

Presenters

Taylor Walker

Pharmacy Resident, Baptist Health Lexington

Taylor Walker is a current PGY1 resident at Baptist Health Lexington (BHL) in Lexington, Kentucky. Taylor graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy with her PharmD in 2025. After residency, Taylor plans to continue her pharmacy career as a clinical staff pharmacist... Read More →

Evaluators

Taylor Burich

Friday May 1, 2026 11:00am - 11:20am EDT
Athena G

Infectious Disease (ID), Baptist Health Lexington

global Y

2026 Southeastern Residency Conference

Tate Owens

Taylor Walker

Taylor Burich

Attendees (11)

Get help with the event

2026 Southeastern Residency Conference

Tate Owens

Taylor Walker

Taylor Burich

Attendees (11)

Sign up or log in to save this to your schedule, view media, leave feedback and see who's attending!

Get help with the event