RESUMO
The rapid expansion of telemedicine has highlighted challenges and opportunities to improve antibiotic use and effectively adapt antibiotic stewardship best practices to outpatient telemedicine settings. Antibiotic stewardship integration into telemedicine is essential to optimize antibiotic prescribing for patients and ensure health care quality. We performed a narrative review of published literature on antibiotic prescribing and stewardship in outpatient telemedicine to inform the adaptation of the Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship framework to outpatient telemedicine settings. Our narrative review suggests that in-person antibiotic stewardship interventions can be adapted to outpatient telemedicine settings. We present considerations for applying the Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship to outpatient telemedicine which builds upon growing evidence describing care delivery and quality improvement in this setting. Additional applied implementation research is necessary to inform the application of effective, sustainable, and equitable antibiotic stewardship interventions across the spectrum of outpatient telemedicine.
Assuntos
Gestão de Antimicrobianos , Telemedicina , Estados Unidos , Humanos , Pacientes Ambulatoriais , Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.RESUMO
CONTEXT: Between April 2020 and May 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded more than $40 billion to health departments nationwide for COVID-19 prevention and response activities. One of the identified priorities for this investment was improving infection prevention and control (IPC) in nursing homes. PROGRAM: CDC developed a virtual course to train new and less experienced public health staff in core healthcare IPC principles and in the application of CDC COVID-19 healthcare IPC guidance for nursing homes. IMPLEMENTATION: From October 2020 to August 2021, the CDC led training sessions for 12 cohorts of public health staff using pretraining reading materials, case-based scenarios, didactic presentations, peer-learning opportunities, and subject matter expert-led discussions. Multiple electronic assessments were distributed to learners over time to measure changes in self-reported knowledge and confidence and to collect feedback on the course. Participating public health programs were also assessed to measure overall course impact. EVALUATION: Among 182 enrolled learners, 94% completed the training. Most learners were infection preventionists (42%) or epidemiologists (38%), had less than 1 year of experience in their health department role (75%), and had less than 1 year of subject matter experience (54%). After training, learners reported increased knowledge and confidence in applying the CDC COVID-19 healthcare IPC guidance for nursing homes (≥81%) with the greatest increase in performing COVID-19 IPC consultations and assessments (87%). The majority of participating programs agreed that the course provided an overall benefit (88%) and reduced training burden (72%). DISCUSSION: The CDC's virtual course was effective in increasing public health capacity for COVID-19 healthcare IPC in nursing homes and provides a possible model to increase IPC capacity for other infectious diseases and other healthcare settings. Future virtual healthcare IPC courses could be enhanced by tailoring materials to health department needs, reinforcing training through applied learning experiences, and supporting mechanisms to retain trained staff.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , COVID-19/epidemiologia , COVID-19/prevenção & controle , Pessoal de Saúde/educação , Humanos , Controle de Infecções , Casas de Saúde , Saúde PúblicaRESUMO
A pneumococcal disease outbreak caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 12F occurred in a state prison in Alabama, USA. Among 1,276 inmates, 40 cases were identified (3 confirmed, 2 probable, 35 suspected). Close living quarters, substance use, and underlying conditions likely contributed to disease risk. Prophylaxis for close contacts included azithromycin and 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine.
Assuntos
Infecções Pneumocócicas , Streptococcus pneumoniae , Alabama , Surtos de Doenças , Humanos , Infecções Pneumocócicas/epidemiologia , Vacinas Pneumocócicas , Prisões , SorogrupoRESUMO
Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are focal points of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and asymptomatic infections with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, among SNF residents and health care personnel have been described (1-3). Repeated point prevalence surveys (serial testing of all residents and health care personnel at a health care facility irrespective of symptoms) have been used to identify asymptomatic infections and have reduced SARS-CoV-2 transmission during SNF outbreaks (1,3). During March 2020, the Detroit Health Department and area hospitals detected a sharp increase in COVID-19 diagnoses, hospitalizations, and associated deaths among SNF residents. The Detroit Health Department collaborated with local government, academic, and health care system partners and a CDC field team to rapidly expand SARS-CoV-2 testing and implement infection prevention and control (IPC) activities in all Detroit-area SNFs. During March 7-May 8, among 2,773 residents of 26 Detroit SNFs, 1,207 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 were identified during three periods: before (March 7-April 7) and after two point prevalence surveys (April 8-25 and April 30-May 8): the overall attack rate was 44%. Within 21 days of receiving their first positive test results, 446 (37%) of 1,207 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized, and 287 (24%) died. Among facilities participating in both surveys (n = 12), the percentage of positive test results declined from 35% to 18%. Repeated point prevalence surveys in SNFs identified asymptomatic COVID-19 cases, informed cohorting and IPC practices aimed at reducing transmission, and guided prioritization of health department resources for facilities experiencing high levels of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. With the increased availability of SARS-CoV-2 testing, repeated point prevalence surveys and enhanced and expanded IPC support should be standard tools for interrupting and preventing COVID-19 outbreaks in SNFs.
Assuntos
Técnicas de Laboratório Clínico/métodos , Infecções por Coronavirus/prevenção & controle , Controle de Infecções/métodos , Programas de Rastreamento/métodos , Pandemias/prevenção & controle , Pneumonia Viral/prevenção & controle , Instituições de Cuidados Especializados de Enfermagem , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , COVID-19 , Teste para COVID-19 , Infecções por Coronavirus/diagnóstico , Infecções por Coronavirus/epidemiologia , Humanos , Michigan/epidemiologia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Pneumonia Viral/epidemiologia , PrevalênciaRESUMO
Undetected infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) contributes to transmission in nursing homes, settings where large outbreaks with high resident mortality have occurred (1,2). Facility-wide testing of residents and health care personnel (HCP) can identify asymptomatic and presymptomatic infections and facilitate infection prevention and control interventions (3-5). Seven state or local health departments conducted initial facility-wide testing of residents and staff members in 288 nursing homes during March 24-June 14, 2020. Two of the seven health departments conducted testing in 195 nursing homes as part of facility-wide testing all nursing homes in their state, which were in low-incidence areas (i.e., the median preceding 14-day cumulative incidence in the surrounding county for each jurisdiction was 19 and 38 cases per 100,000 persons); 125 of the 195 nursing homes had not reported any COVID-19 cases before the testing. Ninety-five of 22,977 (0.4%) persons tested in 29 (23%) of these 125 facilities had positive SARS-CoV-2 test results. The other five health departments targeted facility-wide testing to 93 nursing homes, where 13,443 persons were tested, and 1,619 (12%) had positive SARS-CoV-2 test results. In regression analyses among 88 of these nursing homes with a documented case before facility-wide testing occurred, each additional day between identification of the first case and completion of facility-wide testing was associated with identification of 1.3 additional cases. Among 62 facilities that could differentiate results by resident and HCP status, an estimated 1.3 HCP cases were identified for every three resident cases. Performing facility-wide testing immediately after identification of a case commonly identifies additional unrecognized cases and, therefore, might maximize the benefits of infection prevention and control interventions. In contrast, facility-wide testing in low-incidence areas without a case has a lower proportion of test positivity; strategies are needed to further optimize testing in these settings.
Assuntos
Técnicas de Laboratório Clínico , Infecções por Coronavirus/prevenção & controle , Casas de Saúde , Pandemias/prevenção & controle , Pneumonia Viral/prevenção & controle , Idoso , COVID-19 , Teste para COVID-19 , Infecções por Coronavirus/diagnóstico , Infecções por Coronavirus/epidemiologia , Infecções por Coronavirus/transmissão , Pessoal de Saúde , Humanos , Transmissão de Doença Infecciosa do Paciente para o Profissional/prevenção & controle , Transmissão de Doença Infecciosa do Profissional para o Paciente/prevenção & controle , Pneumonia Viral/epidemiologia , Pneumonia Viral/transmissão , Estados Unidos/epidemiologiaRESUMO
The Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship provides a framework for antibiotic stewardship for outpatient clinicians and facilities that routinely provide antibiotic treatment. This report augments existing guidance for other clinical settings. In 2014 and 2015, respectively, CDC released the Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs and the Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship for Nursing Homes. Antibiotic stewardship is the effort to measure and improve how antibiotics are prescribed by clinicians and used by patients. Improving antibiotic prescribing involves implementing effective strategies to modify prescribing practices to align them with evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and management. The four core elements of outpatient antibiotic stewardship are commitment, action for policy and practice, tracking and reporting, and education and expertise. Outpatient clinicians and facility leaders can commit to improving antibiotic prescribing and take action by implementing at least one policy or practice aimed at improving antibiotic prescribing practices. Clinicians and leaders of outpatient clinics and health care systems can track antibiotic prescribing practices and regularly report these data back to clinicians. Clinicians can provide educational resources to patients and families on appropriate antibiotic use. Finally, leaders of outpatient clinics and health systems can provide clinicians with education aimed at improving antibiotic prescribing and with access to persons with expertise in antibiotic stewardship. Establishing effective antibiotic stewardship interventions can protect patients and improve clinical outcomes in outpatient health care settings.
Assuntos
Instituições de Assistência Ambulatorial , Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Prescrição Inadequada/prevenção & controle , Infecções Bacterianas/tratamento farmacológico , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. , Farmacorresistência Bacteriana , Humanos , Guias de Prática Clínica como Assunto , Estados UnidosRESUMO
A retrospective analysis was performed using The Surveillance Network, USA, to examine the prevalence of antibiotic resistance among urine isolates from U.S. female outpatients in 2012 and assessed trends in antibiotic resistance comparing data from 2003 and 2012. The most common pathogen identified in 2012 (n = 285,325) was Escherichia coli (64.9% of isolates). In 2012, E. coli resistance to nitrofurantoin was low (<3%) across all age groups. E. coli resistance to ciprofloxacin was high among adults (11.8%) and elderly outpatients (29.1%). When comparing the 2003 and 2012 data from isolates from adults, E. coli resistance to nitrofurantoin changed only slightly (from 0.7% to 0.9%), whereas increases in resistance to ciprofloxacin (3.6% to 11.8%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (17.2% to 22.2%) changed substantially. In the United States, E. coli has become increasingly resistant to ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) in adult female outpatients. Nitrofurantoin retains high levels of antibiotic activity against urinary E. coli.
Assuntos
Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Adolescente , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Ciprofloxacina/farmacologia , Farmacorresistência Bacteriana , Escherichia coli/efeitos dos fármacos , Infecções por Escherichia coli/microbiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Nitrofurantoína/farmacologia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Combinação Trimetoprima e Sulfametoxazol/farmacologiaRESUMO
IMPORTANCE: The National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria set a goal of reducing inappropriate outpatient antibiotic use by 50% by 2020, but the extent of inappropriate outpatient antibiotic use is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the rates of outpatient oral antibiotic prescribing by age and diagnosis, and the estimated portions of antibiotic use that may be inappropriate in adults and children in the United States. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Using the 2010-2011 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, annual numbers and population-adjusted rates with 95% confidence intervals of ambulatory visits with oral antibiotic prescriptions by age, region, and diagnosis in the United States were estimated. EXPOSURES: Ambulatory care visits. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Based on national guidelines and regional variation in prescribing, diagnosis-specific prevalence and rates of total and appropriate antibiotic prescriptions were determined. These rates were combined to calculate an estimate of the appropriate annual rate of antibiotic prescriptions per 1000 population. RESULTS: Of the 184,032 sampled visits, 12.6% of visits (95% CI, 12.0%-13.3%) resulted in antibiotic prescriptions. Sinusitis was the single diagnosis associated with the most antibiotic prescriptions per 1000 population (56 antibiotic prescriptions [95% CI, 48-64]), followed by suppurative otitis media (47 antibiotic prescriptions [95% CI, 41-54]), and pharyngitis (43 antibiotic prescriptions [95% CI, 38-49]). Collectively, acute respiratory conditions per 1000 population led to 221 antibiotic prescriptions (95% CI, 198-245) annually, but only 111 antibiotic prescriptions were estimated to be appropriate for these conditions. Per 1000 population, among all conditions and ages combined in 2010-2011, an estimated 506 antibiotic prescriptions (95% CI, 458-554) were written annually, and, of these, 353 antibiotic prescriptions were estimated to be appropriate antibiotic prescriptions. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In the United States in 2010-2011, there was an estimated annual antibiotic prescription rate per 1000 population of 506, but only an estimated 353 antibiotic prescriptions were likely appropriate, supporting the need for establishing a goal for outpatient antibiotic stewardship.
Assuntos
Assistência Ambulatorial/estatística & dados numéricos , Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Prescrição Inadequada/estatística & dados numéricos , Otite Média Supurativa/tratamento farmacológico , Padrões de Prática Médica/estatística & dados numéricos , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Pesquisas sobre Atenção à Saúde , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Faringite/tratamento farmacológico , Prevalência , Infecções Respiratórias/tratamento farmacológico , Estados UnidosRESUMO
Appropriate antibiotic use, in particular avoidance of antibiotics for upper respiratory infections likely to be caused by viruses, is a key component of efforts to slow the increase in antibiotic-resistant infections. Studies suggest that Hispanic consumers might differ from non-Hispanic consumers in their knowledge and attitudes regarding antibiotic use (4). To better understand health care provider and consumer knowledge and attitudes that influence antibiotic use, CDC analyzed national internet survey data collected from participants living in the United States during 2012-2013. The participants represented three groups: 1) the total population of adult consumers (all ethnicities); 2) adult Hispanic consumers; and 3) health care providers. Hispanic consumers were more likely than all consumers to believe that if they have a cold, antibiotics would help them to get better more quickly (48% versus 25%), and more likely to obtain antibiotics not prescribed by a clinician, such as antibiotics left over from a previous illness (25% versus 9%), obtained from a neighborhood grocery store (23% versus 5%), or obtained from a friend or family member (17% versus 6%). Most providers surveyed (54%) reported that they believed their patients expect antibiotics during visits for a cough or cold, whereas 26% of all consumers reported this expectation. To maximize knowledge about appropriate antibiotic use among outpatients in the United States, public health initiatives should target Hispanic as well as general audiences.
Assuntos
Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Atitude do Pessoal de Saúde , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Pessoal de Saúde/psicologia , Hispânico ou Latino/psicologia , Adulto , Resistência Microbiana a Medicamentos , Feminino , Pessoal de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Hispânico ou Latino/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , Masculino , Relações Médico-Paciente , Padrões de Prática Médica , Estados UnidosRESUMO
Each year in the United States, approximately two million persons become infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, at least 23,000 persons die as a direct result of these infections, and many more die from conditions complicated by a resistant infection. Antibiotic-resistant infections contribute to poor health outcomes, higher health care costs, and use of more toxic treatments. Although emerging resistance mechanisms are being identified and resistant infections are on the rise, new antibiotic development has slowed considerably.
Assuntos
Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Competência Clínica , Farmacorresistência Bacteriana , Padrões de Prática Médica/normas , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. , Previsões , Humanos , Guias de Prática Clínica como Assunto , Estados UnidosRESUMO
Appropriate selection of antibiotic drugs is critical to optimize treatment of infections and limit the spread of antibiotic resistance. To better inform public health efforts to improve prescribing of antibiotic drugs, we conducted in-depth interviews with 36 primary care providers in the United States (physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants) to explore knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported practices regarding antibiotic drug resistance and antibiotic drug selection for common infections. Participants were generally familiar with guideline recommendations for antibiotic drug selection for common infections, but did not always comply with them. Reasons for nonadherence included the belief that nonrecommended agents are more likely to cure an infection, concern for patient or parent satisfaction, and fear of infectious complications. Providers inconsistently defined broad- and narrow-spectrum antibiotic agents. There was widespread concern for antibiotic resistance; however, it was not commonly considered when selecting therapy. Strategies to encourage use of first-line agents are needed in addition to limiting unnecessary prescribing of antibiotic drugs.
Assuntos
Antibacterianos , Atitude do Pessoal de Saúde , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Pessoal de Saúde , Padrões de Prática Médica , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Prescrições de Medicamentos , Farmacorresistência Bacteriana , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pesquisa Qualitativa , Estados UnidosRESUMO
We compared antibiotic prescribing rates for respiratory conditions in a national sample of outpatient visits from 2010 to 2018 between physicians and advanced practice clinicians (APCs). APCs prescribed antibiotics more frequently than physicians (58% vs 52%), but there were no differences in selection of guideline recommended first-line agents between specialties.
Assuntos
Medicina , Médicos , Infecções Respiratórias , Humanos , Infecções Respiratórias/tratamento farmacológico , Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Padrões de Prática Médica , Prescrição Inadequada/prevenção & controleRESUMO
Background: Better understanding differences associated with antibiotic prescribing for acute sinusitis can help inform antibiotic stewardship strategies. We characterized antibiotic prescribing patterns for acute sinusitis among commercially insured adults and explored differences by patient- and prescriber-level factors. Methods: Outpatient encounters among adults aged 18 to 64 years diagnosed with sinusitis between 2016 and 2020 were identified by national administrative claims data. We classified antibiotic agents-first-line (amoxicillin-clavulanate or amoxicillin) and second-line (doxycycline, levofloxacin, or moxifloxacin)-and ≤7-day durations as guideline concordant based on clinical practice guidelines. Modified Poisson regression was used to examine the association between patient- and prescriber-level factors and guideline-concordant antibiotic prescribing. Results: Among 4 689 850 sinusitis encounters, 53% resulted in a guideline-concordant agent, 30% in a guideline-discordant agent, and 17% in no antibiotic prescription. About 75% of first-line agents and 63% of second-line agents were prescribed for >7 days, exceeding the length of therapy recommended by clinical guidelines. Adults with sinusitis living in a rural area were less likely to receive a prescription with guideline-concordant antibiotic selection (adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 0.92; 95% CI, .92-.92) and duration (aRR, 0.77; 95% CI, .76-.77). When compared with encounters in an office setting, urgent care encounters were less likely to result in a prescription with a guideline-concordant duration (aRR, 0.76; 95% CI, .75-.76). Conclusions: Opportunities still exist to optimize antibiotic agent selection and treatment duration for adults with acute sinusitis, especially in rural areas and urgent care settings. Recognizing specific patient- and prescriber-level factors associated with antibiotic prescribing can help inform antibiotic stewardship interventions.
RESUMO
We studied antimicrobial-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae for 1998-2010 by using data from The Surveillance Network. Susceptibility results (n = 3,132,354) demonstrated significant increases in resistance to all antimicrobial drugs studied, except tetracycline. Cross-resistance among carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae was lower for tetracycline and amikacin.
Assuntos
Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Farmacorresistência Bacteriana Múltipla/efeitos dos fármacos , Infecções por Klebsiella/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções por Klebsiella/epidemiologia , Klebsiella pneumoniae/fisiologia , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Farmacorresistência Bacteriana Múltipla/fisiologia , Monitoramento Epidemiológico , Humanos , Pacientes Internados , Infecções por Klebsiella/microbiologia , Klebsiella pneumoniae/efeitos dos fármacos , Klebsiella pneumoniae/isolamento & purificação , Estudos Longitudinais , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Estudos Retrospectivos , Estados Unidos/epidemiologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Few studies have examined Escherichia coli antimicrobial resistance across age groups over time. The objective of this study was to compare urinary E. coli antimicrobial resistance trends among adult and geriatric outpatients from 2000 to 2010. METHODS: Antimicrobial susceptibility results for E. coli urine isolates from adult (aged 16-64 years) and geriatric (aged ≥65 years) outpatients were analysed using data from The Surveillance Network Database-USA. RESULTS: Susceptibility test results from adult (nâ=â6â412â025) and geriatric (nâ=â3â395â297) outpatients showed that E. coli antimicrobial resistance increased faster among geriatric outpatients for all agents studied. The greatest increases in resistance over the study time period were for ciprofloxacin (9.4% and 23.5% increases among adult and geriatric individuals, respectively), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (4.3% and 10.5%) and ampicillin (2.0% and 13.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Urinary E. coli antimicrobial resistance increased faster among geriatric outpatients than adult outpatients in the USA. Rising antimicrobial resistance disproportionately affects geriatric populations and presents a threat to public health.
Assuntos
Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Farmacorresistência Bacteriana , Infecções por Escherichia coli/epidemiologia , Escherichia coli/efeitos dos fármacos , Pacientes Ambulatoriais , Infecções Urinárias/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Escherichia coli/isolamento & purificação , Infecções por Escherichia coli/microbiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prevalência , Estados Unidos/epidemiologia , Infecções Urinárias/microbiologia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
This study examines in vitro antimicrobial resistance data from Escherichia coli isolates obtained from urine samples of U.S. outpatients between 2000 and 2010 using The Surveillance Network (TSN). Antimicrobial susceptibility results (n = 12,253,679) showed the greatest increases in E. coli resistance from 2000 to 2010 for ciprofloxacin (3% to 17.1%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) (17.9% to 24.2%), whereas nitrofurantoin (0.8% to 1.6%) and ceftriaxone (0.2% to 2.3%) showed minimal change. From 2000 to 2010, the antimicrobial resistance of urinary E. coli isolates to ciprofloxacin and TMP-SMX among outpatients increased substantially.
Assuntos
Farmacorresistência Bacteriana , Infecções por Escherichia coli/microbiologia , Infecções Urinárias/microbiologia , Ceftriaxona/farmacologia , Resistência às Cefalosporinas , Ciprofloxacina/farmacologia , Escherichia coli/efeitos dos fármacos , Infecções por Escherichia coli/epidemiologia , Humanos , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Nitrofurantoína/farmacologia , Pacientes Ambulatoriais , Vigilância da População , Resistência a Trimetoprima , Combinação Trimetoprima e Sulfametoxazol/farmacologia , Estados Unidos , Infecções Urinárias/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Areas of rural Alabama may be at risk for re-emergence of soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) where environmental conditions are favorable for STH transmission, including in the agricultural Black Belt region. We describe pediatric Medicaid STH visits in Alabama and compare STH visit rates in Black Belt counties with those of non-Black Belt counties. Alabama Medicaid visit claims among children aged 0-18 years who received an STH diagnosis during January 2010-December 2018 were examined. STH-related pediatric visits were uncommon, but several counties with higher STH rates were identified. Visit rates did not differ meaningfully when comparing Black Belt with non-Black Belt region counties (rate ratio: 1.10; 95% CI: 0.73-1.64). Additional studies examining STH prevalence among children living in communities at risk for STH in Alabama can further clarify STH burden and identify communities experiencing environmental and sanitation conditions favorable to STH endemicity.