Improving Antibiotic Prescriptions for Patients Leaving the Hospital
Official title: Leveraging inpatient antimicrobial stewardship infrastructure to improve antimicrobial-prescribing at hospital discharge
Funded at Iowa City VA Medical Center · NIH-11142381 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to help hospitals ensure patients receive the most appropriate antibiotics when they go home, reducing risks like C. difficile infections and antibiotic resistance.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Iowa City VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | September 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003325-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11142381 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients who receive antibiotics during a hospital stay and are prescribed antibiotics to take home are the focus of this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not receive antibiotics during or after a hospital stay would not directly benefit from this specific improvement in prescribing practices.
What this research studies
Antibiotic overuse is a major concern, contributing to antibiotic resistance and harmful side effects like C. difficile infections. While hospitals have programs to manage antibiotic use during a stay, a significant portion of antibiotic exposure happens after patients leave. This project will look at how current hospital antibiotic management can be extended to improve prescriptions given at discharge. By understanding why some post-discharge antibiotic prescriptions might be unnecessary or suboptimal, we can develop better strategies to protect patients. Our goal is to make sure you receive the safest and most effective antibiotic treatment when you return home.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to fewer serious infections like C. difficile and help slow the development of antibiotic-resistant germs, improving patient safety.
How similar studies have gone: While inpatient antibiotic stewardship programs have shown success, improving post-discharge prescribing is a newer area with critical gaps in current understanding.
Where this research is happening
-
Iowa City VA Medical Center
Iowa City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Livorsi, Daniel — Iowa City VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Livorsi, Daniel
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.