CRAFT: cutting unnecessary antibiotics for sudden respiratory infections
Care, Review, Assessment and Feedback Tool In Acute Respiratory infections (CRAFT-IAR)
['FUNDING_R01'] · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · NIH-11291873
This project uses an automated feedback tool to help urgent-care and emergency clinicians avoid unnecessary antibiotics for people with sudden respiratory infections.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NASHVILLE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11291873 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If I go to an ED, walk-in clinic, or retail urgent care with cough, sore throat, or cold symptoms, this project aims to make clinicians get timely feedback about antibiotic decisions using data from the medical record. The team built the CRAFT tool with input from clinicians and human-factors experts so it fits busy clinic workflow and can run automatically. They will pilot and then deploy the tool to deliver audit-and-feedback and decision support to clinicians while tracking prescribing and patient outcomes. The goal is safer, more targeted antibiotic use without slowing down urgent care visits.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People seeking unscheduled outpatient care for acute upper respiratory symptoms (e.g., sore throat, cough, cold) at participating EDs, walk-in clinics, or retail clinics are the main focus.
Not a fit: Patients with severe bacterial infections requiring immediate antibiotics, hospitalized patients, or those with non-respiratory conditions are unlikely to benefit directly from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions, lowering side effects for patients and helping slow antibiotic resistance.
How similar studies have performed: Previous audit-and-feedback and electronic decision-support programs have lowered inappropriate antibiotic use, but many were hard to sustain or fit poorly into busy urgent-care workflows.
Where this research is happening
NASHVILLE, UNITED STATES
- VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER — NASHVILLE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: WARD, MICHAEL J. — VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- Study coordinator: WARD, MICHAEL J.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Acute respiratory infection