Leveraging Existing and Soon-to-Be-Available Novel Diagnostics for Optimizing Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship in Patients With Respiratory Tract Infections

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) drive many outpatient encounters and, despite being predominantly viral, are associated with high rates of antibiotic prescriptions. With rising antibacterial resistance, optimization of prescribing of antibiotics in outpatients with RTIs is a critical need. Fortunately, this challenge arises at a time of increasing availability of novel RTI diagnostics to help discern which patients have bacterial infections warranting treatment. Effective implementation of antibiotic stewardship is needed, but optimal approaches for ambulatory settings are unknown. Future research needs are reviewed in this summary of a research summit convened by the Infectious Diseases Society of America in the fall of 2019.

Automated summary

Respiratory tract infections are a common reason for outpatient visits, with a need to address the overprescription of antibiotics and rising antibiotic resistance. The availability of novel RTI diagnostics can help identify patients needing treatment, but optimal approaches for antibiotic stewardship in ambulatory settings remain unclear. Future research needs were discussed at a research summit convened by the Infectious Diseases Society of America in the fall of 2019.