Meghan Birkholz
YOU?
Author Swipe
View article: Clinical Pathway Revision Increases Amoxicillin Monotherapy and 5-Day Durations of Therapy for Pediatric Community-Acquired Pneumonia in the Emergency Department and Urgent Care: A Quality Improvement Initiative
Clinical Pathway Revision Increases Amoxicillin Monotherapy and 5-Day Durations of Therapy for Pediatric Community-Acquired Pneumonia in the Emergency Department and Urgent Care: A Quality Improvement Initiative Open
View article: 176. A Quality Improvement Endeavor to Improve Antibiotic Prescribing for Children with Acute Otitis Media in Emergency and Urgent Care Settings
176. A Quality Improvement Endeavor to Improve Antibiotic Prescribing for Children with Acute Otitis Media in Emergency and Urgent Care Settings Open
Background Acute otitis media (AOM) self-resolves without antibiotics in 60-75% of cases. This study evaluates the impact of a quality improvement intervention on antibiotic prescribing for pediatric AOM.Figure 1.Proportion of antibiotics …
View article: 301. Clinical impact of a <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> PCR assay on pleural fluid specimens for children with complicated pneumonia
301. Clinical impact of a <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> PCR assay on pleural fluid specimens for children with complicated pneumonia Open
Background While Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) is the predominant pathogen in pediatric complicated community acquired pneumonia (cCAP), it is infrequently recovered by culture-based methods. Without Spn or another pathogen detected, pati…
View article: Multimodal Surveillance Model for Enterovirus D68 Respiratory Disease and Acute Flaccid Myelitis among Children in Colorado, USA, 2022
Multimodal Surveillance Model for Enterovirus D68 Respiratory Disease and Acute Flaccid Myelitis among Children in Colorado, USA, 2022 Open
Surveillance for emerging pathogens is critical for developing early warning systems to guide preparedness efforts for future outbreaks of associated disease. To better define the epidemiology and burden of associated respiratory disease a…
View article: A Multimodal Intervention to Reduce <i>C. difficile</i> Infections and Stool Testing
A Multimodal Intervention to Reduce <i>C. difficile</i> Infections and Stool Testing Open
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The introduction of multiplex gastrointestinal panels at our institution resulted in increased Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) detection and stool test utilization. We aimed to reduce hospital-onset C. dif…
View article: 2207. Impact of an Intervention Bundle on Azithromycin Use and 5-Day Durations of Therapy for Ambulatory Pediatric Community Acquired Pneumonia
2207. Impact of an Intervention Bundle on Azithromycin Use and 5-Day Durations of Therapy for Ambulatory Pediatric Community Acquired Pneumonia Open
Background Amoxicillin for a 5-day duration is the first-line recommended treatment for pediatric uncomplicated community acquired pneumonia (CAP). This project sought to identify the impact of a bundled intervention on first-line treatmen…
View article: 145. Tracheal Aspirate Order Indications and Associated Culture Results in Mechanically Ventilated Children
145. Tracheal Aspirate Order Indications and Associated Culture Results in Mechanically Ventilated Children Open
Background Tracheal aspirates (TAs) are collected on mechanically ventilated patients to aid in diagnosis of tracheitis or ventilator associated pneumonia. Accuracy of TA cultures to diagnose lower respiratory tract infections is low, limi…
View article: 1304. Early Surgical Procedures and Clinical Outcomes Among Children Hospitalized with Acute Hematogenous Osteomyelitis
1304. Early Surgical Procedures and Clinical Outcomes Among Children Hospitalized with Acute Hematogenous Osteomyelitis Open
Background Surgical biopsy and drainage may have diagnostic and therapeutic benefits for children with acute hematogenous osteomyelitis (AHO). However, it remains unknown whether routinely expediting surgical procedures improves clinical o…
View article: 1687. Unprecedented Outbreak of Invasive group A <i>Streptococcus</i> Infections in Children - Colorado, October 2022 to March 2023
1687. Unprecedented Outbreak of Invasive group A <i>Streptococcus</i> Infections in Children - Colorado, October 2022 to March 2023 Open
Background Since the fall of 2022, we have observed a sharp rise in pediatric invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS) hospitalizations in Colorado, similar to trends reported in other countries. Methods From October 2022 – March 2023, iGAS c…
View article: Factors Associated With Actionable Gastrointestinal Panel Results in Hospitalized Children
Factors Associated With Actionable Gastrointestinal Panel Results in Hospitalized Children Open
OBJECTIVES There is uncertainty regarding which hospitalized patients with acute gastroenteritis (AGE) benefit from gastrointestinal panel (GIP) testing. Unnecessary testing may lead to increased costs, overdiagnosis, and overtreatment. In…
View article: Association of Endotracheal Aspirate Culture Variability and Antibiotic Use in Mechanically Ventilated Pediatric Patients
Association of Endotracheal Aspirate Culture Variability and Antibiotic Use in Mechanically Ventilated Pediatric Patients Open
In this study, notable variability was found in endotracheal aspirate culture rates across US pediatric hospitals and pediatric intensive care units, and endotracheal aspirate culture use was associated with increased antibiotic use. These…
View article: Impact of FilmArray meningitis encephalitis panel on HSV testing and empiric acyclovir use in children beyond the neonatal period
Impact of FilmArray meningitis encephalitis panel on HSV testing and empiric acyclovir use in children beyond the neonatal period Open
View article: 652. Impact of FilmArray Meningitis Encephalitis Panel on HSV Testing and Acyclovir Use in Children Beyond the Neonatal Period
652. Impact of FilmArray Meningitis Encephalitis Panel on HSV Testing and Acyclovir Use in Children Beyond the Neonatal Period Open
Background Testing and empiric use of acyclovir for herpes simplex virus (HSV) in children beyond the neonatal period undergoing lumbar puncture for suspected central nervous system (CNS) infection doubled in the past decade, while the inc…
View article: Sustainability of Handshake Stewardship: Extending a Hand Is Effective Years Later
Sustainability of Handshake Stewardship: Extending a Hand Is Effective Years Later Open
Background Children’s Hospital Colorado created a unique method of antimicrobial stewardship, called handshake stewardship, that effectively decreased hospital anti-infective use and costs in its pilot year (2013). Handshake stewardship is…
View article: Variation in Inpatient Croup Management and Outcomes
Variation in Inpatient Croup Management and Outcomes Open
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Croup is a clinical diagnosis, and the available evidence suggests that, except in rare cases, ancillary testing, such as radiologic imaging, is not helpful. Given the paucity of inpatient-specific evidence for c…
View article: Importance of Toxic Shock Syndrome in Pediatric Septic Shock Clinical Decision-Making
Importance of Toxic Shock Syndrome in Pediatric Septic Shock Clinical Decision-Making Open
View article: Analysis of the Pediatric Health Information System Database as a Surveillance Tool for Travel-Associated Infectious Diseases
Analysis of the Pediatric Health Information System Database as a Surveillance Tool for Travel-Associated Infectious Diseases Open
The Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database collects admission, diagnostic, and treatment data among 44 children's hospitals across the United States (U.S.) and presents an opportunity for travel-associated infectious disease (…