

Given the highly varied presentation in children, as evidenced by the baseline differences in this study, UTI would be amenable to a prospective clinical decision score to allow stratification of severity and potential different treatment strategies.Īnother question is in relation to the route of antibiotics. Arch Dis Child, 2016) This is not even considering the unobserved variables which cannot be included with propensity weighted scores, and risk potential unseen bias. Factors such as history of recurrent UTI and individual urine cultures were not considered and these could have influenced the scores generated.
#Cid episode 1330 full#
When authors employ statistical methodology to compensate for confounders in non-randomised studies, full disclosure of results allows readers to draw informed conclusions.Ī limitation of the methodology as used in this study is that the propensity score generation was based on only a few variables. Pediatrics, 2019) However, outcomes are only shown for the pseudo-population generated through propensity scores, and not the outcomes of the full cohort in the manuscript or supplemental data, per recommendations for this method. The authors used propensity score-weighting to attempt to equalise differences in baseline characteristics, a method used in previous studies of childhood infection. There are major baseline differences between the groups, which is not unexpected in a retrospective study. However, we respectfully question the way results are presented and lack of discussion around the methodology used. The results support existing evidence promoting the use of shorter antibiotic treatment for urinary tract infections (UTI), a welcome message. JAMA Netw Open, 2020) In this retrospective observational study, the authors compared clinical outcomes of children receiving short-course (≤7 days) versus prolonged course (>7 days) antibiotics for pyelonephritis in 791 children. We commend the authors for their paper titled ‘Comparative Effectiveness of Antibiotic Treatment Duration in Children With Pyelonephritis’. Shared Decision Making and Communication.Scientific Discovery and the Future of Medicine.Health Care Economics, Insurance, Payment.

