Patterns, Predictors, and Inter-Center Variability in Empiric Gram-Negative Antibiotic Use Across 928 U.S. Hospitals 

Empiric antibiotic use among hospitalized U.S. adults is largely undescribed. Identifying factors associated with broad-spectrum empiric therapy may inform antibiotic stewardship interventions and facilitate benchmarking.

Empiric Gram-negative antibiotic use is highly variable across U.S. regions, and there is high, unexplained inter-hospital variability. Sex and racial disparities in the receipt of broad-spectrum therapy warrant further investigation.