Lessons from audit and feedback of hospitalized patients with bacteriuria

We sought to prevent the initiation of antimicrobial therapy for asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) by providing audit and feedback of newly reported positive urine cultures to test whether this could empower providers to leave ASB untreated. Despite success in providing feedback before antibiotics could be initiated in most cases, these recommendations only reduced treatment duration, without affecting antibiotic initiation. This study highlights the limitations of educational initiatives in overcoming engrained beliefs about bacteriuria even when advice is provided in real time.