Standardization of Antibiotic Management and Reduction of Opioid Prescribing in Pediatric Complicated Appendicitis: A Quality Improvement Initiative

•Despite appendicitis being the most common abdominal surgical condition affecting children and adolescents in the United States, wide variation remains in management of patients with complicated appendicitis. Specifically, postoperative antibiotic prescribing strategies in pediatric complicated appendicitis vary substantially across and within institutions.•This study reports the successful implementation of a QI initiative standardizing postoperative antibiotic use and eliminating opioid prescribing at discharge for complicated appendicitis across a large pediatric healthcare system.