Impact of Antibiotic Stewardship on Treatment of Hospitalized Children with Skin and Soft-Tissue Infections

Background: Skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs) are common infectious syndromes in children. Overusing broad-spectrum antibiotics has contributed to rising antibiotic resistance, complicating treatment outcomes. To address this issue, antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) have been implemented to optimize antibiotic use. This study evaluated the impact of a multifaceted ASP on antibiotic prescribing practices for SSTIs in a pediatric acute care setting over eight years. Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental study at the Pediatric Acute Care Unit of the Padua University Hospital, including children admitted with SSTIs from October 2014 to September 2022, to evaluate the impact of a multifaceted ASP implemented in October 2015. The study was divided into three periods: pre-implementation (October 2014–September 2015), post-implementation (October 2015–March 2020), and COVID-19 (April 2020–August 2022). Data on antibiotic prescriptions and microbiological results were collect...