Digital Tool Cuts Antibiotic Prescribing

Pragmatic trial finds digital decision support reduces antibiotic use in Rwandan health centers

By
Jess Allerton
March 6, 2026
2 min

Conexiant

Objective:

To evaluate the impact of a digital clinical decision support algorithm on antibiotic prescribing in pediatric outpatient settings in Rwanda.

Approach:

Key Findings:

Antibiotic prescribing fell from approximately 71% under standard care to about 25% with the digital tool.
Recovery outcomes remained similar between the intervention and control groups.
Follow-up assessments indicated that reduced antibiotic use did not compromise clinical recovery.

Interpretation:

The study suggests that digital clinical decision support can enhance antibiotic stewardship in pediatric outpatient care, especially in low-resource settings.

Limitations:

Non-randomized design may limit causal conclusions.
Potential differences between facilities could affect results.

Conclusion:

Digital clinical decision support may improve adherence to antibiotic prescribing guidelines without negatively impacting patient outcomes, warranting further evaluation in diverse health systems.