Antimicrobial Stewardship in the Outpatient Setting
Published November 17, 2017
Antimicrobial stewardship is not only about inpatient antimicrobial prescribing. Inappropriate outpatient antibiotic prescribing has contributed to the development of resistant organisms. Nebraska is one of the leading states in the country contributing to the problem of inappropriate outpatient antibiotic prescribing. Recognizing this as a national issue with global implications, in 2014 the President called for… Read More
Establishing Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs in Small and Critical Access Hospitals
Published November 16, 2017
In 2014, the CDC published The Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs to assist acute care facilities implement antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP). While these efforts were relatively successful in hospitals with more than 50 beds (>50% were compliant with all seven ASP core elements), only 26% of hospitals with 25 beds or less had… Read More
Nebraska ASAP Efforts to Promote Antimicrobial Stewardship Activities in Long-Term Care Facilities Across the State
Published November 15, 2017
Antibiotic use is common in long-term care facilities (LTCF) with 70% of residents receiving at least one course of systemic antibiotic every year. A significant proportion of this antibiotic use (40% to 75%) is either unnecessary or inappropriate. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will require all LTCF to have an antimicrobial stewardship program… Read More
The Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Nebraska Medicine
Published November 14, 2017
Since 2004, the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) at Nebraska Medicine (www.nebraskamed.com/ASP) has been assisting prescribers determine the best antimicrobials for their patients’ infections and when to avoid giving antibiotics. The philosophy of the program is not to restrict access to these life-saving medications but to guide clinicians in the optimal use of these potentially dangerous… Read More
Antimicrobial Stewardship: Preserving the Future
Published November 13, 2017
The clinicians involved in antimicrobial stewardship at UNMC, Nebraska Medicine, and Nebraska ASAP will be discussing the role antimicrobial stewardship play in various health care settings. We will be posting daily during Antibiotic Awareness Week covering topics including stewardship in larger hospitals, small/critical access hospitals, long-term care facilities, and ambulatory settings. The introductory blog post titled… Read More
Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts Signs Proclamation Declaring November 13 to 19 Antibiotic Awareness Week
Published November 9, 2017
On November 8th, Governor Pete Ricketts signed a Proclamation in the Nebraska State Capitol declaring November 13 to 19, 2017 Antibiotic Awareness Week which coincides with CDC efforts to highlight the same issue. The proclamation signing was largely due to the efforts of Dr. Maureen Tierney, leader of the Nebraska’s Healthcare Associated Infections Program, who… Read More
AMDA Publishes ASP Policy Template for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Settings
Published November 7, 2017
Antibiotic use is common in long-term care facility (LTCF) with 70% of residents receiving at least one course of systemic antibiotic every year. A significant proportion of the antibiotic use (40% to 75%) in nursing homes has been found to be unnecessary or inappropriate. Antibiotic exposure drives selection for multidrug resistant organisms and C difficile infections. … Read More