In this randomized, controlled trial of more than 3,000 women in developing countries with incomplete or missed abortion at less than 22 weeks’ gestation, antibiotic prophylaxis prior to uterine evacuation reduced infection rates when a strict definition for pelvic infection was used, but not when a more expanded definition was used.

The authors of a retrospective cohort study suggest that perioperative antibiotics reduce the risk of surgical site infection in women undergoing myomectomy.

Inappropriate antibiotic use for a child with a viral respiratory infection is not a “one and done” error. Children who receive antibiotics when diagnosed with a viral respiratory infection are more likely to seek care for viral infections subsequently and to receive inappropriate antibiotics again.

Oral step-down antibiotic therapy (IV to oral conversion) is safe and effective in patients with bloodstream infection due to Enterobacteriaceae.

Tachypnea has long been considered to identify which children with acute fever and cough might benefit from antibiotic treatment, especially in resource-limited parts of the world. Now, with declining rates of vaccine-preventable infections with Haemophilus influenzae and pneumococcus, new data suggest that approximately 90% of febrile, tachypneic, coughing (but still well enough for outpatient treatment) preschoolers do fine without antibiotics.

Researchers observed nongrowing cells of Salmonella that remained persistent, resisted antibiotics, and retained infectivity.

Although standard treatment of late-onset neonatal group B Streptococcus bacteremia includes intravenous antibiotic therapy for 10 days, shorter courses seem safe and effective.

Antibiotic administration for seven days is sufficient in stable patients with Gram-negative bacteremia.

In an observational study conducted at an academic medical center in London, researchers looked at factors involved in decision-making. The presumptive diagnosis of infection by the emergency department (ED) influenced decision-making by both medical and surgical admitting teams. Medical teams tended to use a multidisciplinary approach to antibiotic decision-making. Surgical teams often delegated antibiotic decision-making to the most junior members of the surgical team.