Telehealth Can Help Reduce Antibiotic Use Among Newborns

Researchers found that using telehealth to conduct consultations with a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio helped reduce the need for antibiotic use among newborns in nurseries across South Texas.

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio includes five professional schools and 7,200 employees. Its clinical practice comprises more than 2 million patient visits yearly. 

As telehealth use skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have kept track of its effect on treatment and the extent to which patients benefit.

Keeping antibiotic use among newborn babies in check is important because the medications may have unwanted side effects, such as killing healthy bacteria that babies need to combat various issues, like gut problems and asthma.

“With unnecessary or prolonged antibiotics, the normal, healthy bacteria of babies is disrupted,” said pediatrician Joseph Cantey, MD, first author and consulting specialist for the study from UT Health San Antonio, in a press release. “Ten to 15 years ago, we treated all babies with the slightest risk of infection just to be safe. Then we started to understand the protection afforded by these normal bacteria. Now we are trying to be much more select with who needs to be exposed to antibiotics. Even a couple of doses at birth matter.”

Researchers began the study in 2018, prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, the nurseries cared for 9,277 babies over three years. Cantey and the research team began by reviewing antibiotic use data for 15 months, followed by a nine-month period that included the addition of telehealth consultations with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio specialist.

They found that following the implementation of telehealth, the number of newborns receiving antibiotics dropped by 32 percent. This led researchers to believe telehealth can help lower antibiotic use among infants.

Despite the various harmful effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, it did spur the expansion of digitally enabled care, which has provided several patient benefits.

For example, a study published in April discussed the ability of digital health to reduce heart failure-related deaths. The study compared two treatment groups, one of which received standard treatment and the other treated through digital health interventions. Researchers found that the group that received digital treatment experienced fewer all-cause and cardiovascular-related mortalities. 

Another study published in July showed telehealth could be used to support pediatric mental healthcare, particularly within the child psychiatry arena. There is often a significant discrepancy between supply and demand for child psychiatrists, resulting in care access issues. However, telehealth can expand access, especially in rural areas.