AdventHealth Will Implement Research to Combat Antibiotic Resistance in Kids

Two critical challenges in health care are converging: the more-than-a-decade delay in the adoption of new research into clinical practice and the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) caused by antibiotic overuse.

This delay, along with the rise of drug-resistant infections, puts patients — especially children — at higher risk. With US$2.5 million in funding from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), AdventHealth, an Adventist health system based in Florida, United States, is fast-tracking research-backed practices to treat acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI), one of the most common pediatric health concerns.

Growing Threat of Antimicrobial Resistance

The overuse and misuse of antibiotics have led to an alarming global issue — antimicrobial resistance. Recent discussions at the United Nations General Assembly underscore the urgency of tackling AMR, which jeopardizes modern medicine’s ability to treat common infections and is projected to cause 39 million deaths between now and 2050.

AdventHealth’s project will implement findings from a PCORI-funded, patient-centered comparative clinical-effectiveness research study demonstrating that narrow-spectrum antibiotics were as effective as broad-spectrum antibiotics in treating acute respiratory tract infections like ear infections, sinusitis, and sore throats among children, with fewer side effects.

“Antibiotic overuse is not just a global issue, it’s a personal one,” Jeffrey Kuhlman, chief quality and safety officer for AdventHealth, said. “Every unnecessary prescription puts children at risk for adverse side effects and diminishes the future effectiveness of life-saving medications.”

Bridging the Research-to-Practice Gap

AdventHealth is one of 40 health systems in the United States selected by PCORI to participate in the Health Systems Implementation Initiative (HSII). This partnership will accelerate the adoption of evidence-based medical practices into patient care, reducing the typical 17-year gap between research publication and widespread clinical use.

“This PCORI funding award will support AdventHealth to promote antibiotic stewardship for children with acute respiratory tract infections,” said PCORI executive director Nakela L. Cook. “This project exemplifies PCORI’s commitment to advancing the uptake of evidence into health care delivery settings to enable parents, caregivers, and clinicians to make informed health care decisions and improve care delivery and health outcomes. We look forward to following the project’s progress and collaborating with AdventHealth to share its results.”

A Shared Commitment to Better Outcomes

“This partnership with PCORI is one of the many ways we ensure our care is based on the best medical intelligence available, leading to the best patient outcomes possible,” Kuhlman added. “By incorporating the latest research directly into our care practices, we are shaping a future where medical discoveries rapidly reach the frontlines of patient care.”

The original version of this story was posted on the AdventHealth news site.