Table 2.
Characteristics of Antibiotic Prescriptions for Patients Who Received Antibiotics Within 7 Days of a Positive Outpatient SARS-CoV-2 Test Result
| Variable | Overall (n=55), No (%) |
Appropriate Antibiotic Prescription (n=34), No. (%) a | Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescription (n=21), No. (%) a |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of antibiotic prescribed | |||
| Azithromycin | 19 (34.5) | 7 (36.8) | 12 (63.2) |
| Amoxicillin/clavulanate | 7 (12.7) | 5 (71.4) | 2 (28.6) |
| All others | 29 (52.7) | 22 (75.9) | 7 (24.1) |
| Type of visit | |||
| In-person visit | 39 (70.9) | 28 (71.8) | 11 (28.2) |
| Telehealth visit | 13 (23.6) | 3 (23.1) | 10 (76.9) b |
| No visit documented | 3 (5.5) | 3 (100) | 0 (0) |
| Indication for SARS-CoV testing | |||
| Exposed | 1 (1.8) | 1 (100) | 0 (0) |
| Symptomatic | 33 (60.0) | 16 (48.5) | 17 (51.5) |
| Follow-up prior positive | 5 (9.1) | 2 (40.0) | 3 (60.0) |
| Screening (includes preoperative) | 15 (27.3) | 15 (100) | 0 (0) |
| Not clearly documented | 1 (1.8) | 0 (0) | 1 (100) |
| Indication for prescription | |||
| COVID-19–like illness c | 4 (7.3) | 0 (0) | 4 (100) |
| Pneumonia | 11 (20.0) | 5 (45.5) | 6 (54.5) |
| COVID-19 and concern for pneumonia | 2 (3.6) | 0 (0) | 2 (100) |
| Other respiratory concern d | 8 (14.5) | 5 (62.5) | 3 (37.5) |
| Nonrespiratory | 30 (54.5) | 24 (80.0) | 6 (20.0) |
| Febrile (>38.1°C) | |||
| Yes | 3 (5.5) | 1 (33.3) | 2 (66.7) |
| No | 27 (49.1) | 20 (74.1) | 7 (25.9) |
| Not documented | 25 (45.5) | 13 (52.0) | 12 (48.0) |
| When and where were antibiotics prescribed in relation to visit? | |||
| Before outpatient visit | 6 (10.9) | 4 (66.7) | 2 (33.3) |
| After outpatient visit e | 10 (18.2) | 6 (60.0) | 4 (04.0) |
| Same day as outpatient visit | 32 (58.2) | 19 (59.4) | 13 (40.6) |
| In the emergency department | 4 (7.3) | 2 (50.0) | 2 (50.0) |
| No visit documented | 3 (5.5) | 3 (100) | 0 (0) |
Note. COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Units unless otherwise specified.
Appropriateness of antibiotic prescription.
Comparison of the proportion of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions associated with telehealth visits vs. associated with in-person visits: 2-sample test for equality of proportions with continuity correction, P = .006.
COVID-19–like illness was defined as documented concern for COVID-19 pneumonia or the presence of ≥2 of fever, myalgias and cough in absence of other known infectious diagnosis.
Includes acute bacterial sinusitis, COPD exacerbation, “bronchitis,” and pharyngitis.
“After” includes antibiotics prescribed after the initial clinic visit at a follow-up telehealth appointment.