Strategies to turn the tide against inappropriate antibiotic utilization
- Collection:
- Health Policy and Services Research
- Series Title(s):
- Pennsylvania patient safety advisory
- Author(s):
- Adkins, JoAnn, author Bradley, Sharon, author Finley, Edward, author
- Contributor(s):
- Pennsylvania. Patient Safety Authority, issuing body. ECRI (Organization), issuing body. Institute for Safe Medication Practices, issuing body.
- Publication:
- [Harrisburg, Pa.] : Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority, December 2015
- Language(s):
- English
- Format:
- Text
- Subject(s):
- Anti-Bacterial Agents -- therapeutic use Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial Inappropriate Prescribing -- prevention & control Infection Control Clostridium difficile Clostridium Infections -- prevention & control Cross Infection -- drug therapy Cross Infection -- epidemiology Hospitals Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Microbial Sensitivity Tests Nursing Homes Staphylococcal Infections -- prevention & control Humans Pennsylvania United States
- Genre(s):
- Technical Report
- Abstract:
- Focusing on antibiotic utilization practices is a vital strategy to minimize the increasing incidence of both multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) and Clostridium difficile infections. Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority staff analyzed the incidence of MDROs and C. difficile in Pennsylvania hospitals and long-term care facilities (LTCFs), identified antibiotic prescribing practices in LTCFs, and researched strategies to help healthcare facilities build or enhance antibiotic stewardship. From April 2014 through March 2015, 19.0% of the total healthcare-associated infections in Pennsylvania were caused by MDROs, and 17.1% by C. difficile. Over the same time period, 1.9% of infections in LTCFs were associated with MDROs, and 7.3% with C. difficile. Analysis of Pennsylvania's LTCF infection events identified frequent use of fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins as initial antibiotics in multiple infection categories. A review of the literature revealed detailed strategies, including engaging physicians and senior leadership, developing and using an antibiogram, and providing education to healthcare workers to address identified practice gaps and barriers. Implementing these strategies will promote appropriate antibiotic use and help facilities develop and sustain a robust stewardship program to decrease the incidence of MDRO and C. difficile infections.
- Copyright:
- Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further use of the material is subject to CC BY-NC-ND license. (More information)
- Extent:
- 1 online resource (1 PDF file (pages 149-157))
- Illustrations:
- Illustrations
- NLM Unique ID:
- 101673952 (See catalog record)
- Permanent Link:
- http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101673952