Analysis of Variability in the Management of Respiratory Infections in Hospitalized Patients Under 2 Years of Age

Medical practice variability refers to differences in treatment and clinical outcomes that cannot be solely explained by patient characteristics or medical conditions. This variability can lead to inconsistent outcomes, especially in complex environments like pediatric inpatient wards. Standardization of care protocols is proposed as a way to reduce this inconsistency. One key area of variability is the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory infections, particularly distinguishing bacterial from viral bronchial infections. Due to the lack of definitive clinical criteria, there is widespread antibiotic use (65-80% of cases), despite ongoing debate about their effectiveness. Implementing standardized management protocols in pediatric wards aims to reduce such variability and improve clinical outcomes. This study will attempt to measure variability in outcomes based on treatment variables, identifying sources of medical variability and their impact.