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COVID-19

Antibiotic Utilization for Respiratory Conditions (AXR)

HEDIS Measure

Antibiotic Utilization for Respiratory Conditions (AXR)

Line of business: Commercial Medicaid Medicare

Data Collection Method: Administrative (Claims)

Measure Description

The percentage of episodes for members 3 months of age and older with a diagnosis of a respiratory condition that resulted in an antibiotic dispensing event.

Numerator Compliance

Dispensed prescription for an antibiotic medication from the AXR Antibiotic Medications List on or 3 days after the Episode Date.

Intake Period - A 12- month window that begins on July 1 of the year prior to the measurement year and ends on June 30 of the measurement year. The Intake Period captures eligible episodes of treatment.

Episode date - The date of service for any outpatient, telephone, observation or ED visit, e-visit or virtual check-in during the intake period with a diagnosis of a respiratory condition.

Best Practices

  • Reference the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “Be Antibiotics Aware: Smart Use, Best Care”: cdc.gov/patientsafety/features/be-antibiotics-aware.html

Antibiotic Medications

Description Prescriptions
Absorbable sulfonamides Sulfadiazine, Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim
Aminoglycoside Amikacin, Gentamicin, Streptomycin, Tobramycin
Amoxicillin/clavulanate Amoxicillin-clavulanate
Azithromycin and clarithromycin Azithromycin, Clarithromycin
Cephalosporin (first generation) Cefadroxil, Cefazolin, Cephalexin
Cephalosporin (second, third, fourth generation) Cefaclor, Cefdinir, Cefepime, Cefixime,Cefotaxime, Cefotetan, Cefoxitin, Cefpodoxime, Cefprozil, Ceftriaxone Cefuroxime, Ceftazidime
Clindamycin Clindamycin
Lincosamide (other than clindamycin) Lincomycin
Macrolide (other than azithromycin and clarithromycin) Erythromycin
Penicillin (other than amoxicillin/ clavulanate) Ampicillin, Ampicillin-sulbactam, Amoxicillin, Dicloxacillin, Nafcillin, Oxacillin, Penicillin G benzathine, Penicillin G benzathine-procaine, Penicillin G potassium, Penicillin G procaine, Penicillin G sodium, Penicillin V potassium, Piperacillin-tazobactam
Tetracyclines Doxycycline, Minocycline,Tetracycline
Quinolones Ciprofloxacin, Gemifloxacin, Levofloxacin, Moxifloxacin, Ofloxacin
Miscellaneous antibiotics Aztreonam, Chloramphenicol, Dalfopristin-quinupristin, Daptomycin, Fosfomycin, Linezolid, Metronidazole, Nitrofurantoin, Nitrofurantoin macrocrystals- monohydrate, Rifampin, Telavancin, Trimethoprim, Vancomycin