Digital Algorithm Reduces Antibiotic Prescriptions in Pediatric Outpatient Care

A cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in Tanzania evaluated the impact of a digital clinical decision support algorithm (CDSA) called ePOCT+ on antibiotic prescription and clinical outcomes in acutely sick children under 15 years of age. The study found that the use of ePOCT+ resulted in a significant reduction in antibiotic prescription compared to usual care, with a close-to three-fold reduction in the likelihood of a sick child receiving an antibiotic prescription. Despite fewer antibiotic prescriptions, clinical failure did not increase in the intervention group. The findings highlight the potential of digital health tools like ePOCT+ to address the problem of antimicrobial resistance by reducing excessive antibiotic prescription in pediatric outpatient care.