In November 2019, CDC revised the Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs to provide an updated framework to assist hospitals with implementation of antibiotic stewardship programs (ASP). This revised document incorporate lessons learned and new data in the field of antibiotic stewardship since the initial publication of the previous edition in 2014. In this… Read More
Antimicrobial stewardship is the coordinated efforts to prescribe antimicrobial appropriately and consume antimicrobial responsibly in order to maximize clinical outcomes while minimizing unintended consequences of antimicrobial use. In recent years, major emphasis from the human and animal health sectors as well as public health and regulatory agencies has been placed on the implementation of antimicrobial… Read More
Next week (November 18-24, 2019) has been designated as the U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week. In recognition of this week-long observance to promote appropriate antimicrobial use, a number of educational webinars hosted by national organizations are available. Below is a list of free webinars planned. Please register early. Webinar 1 Date/Time: Tuesday, November 19, 2019, 1:00-2:00… Read More
Front row, left to right: Dr. Tom Safranek (State Epidemiologist, NE DHHS), Dr. Janine Fromm (Executive Medical Director, NE DHHS), Governor Pete Ricketts, Felicia Quintana-Zinn (Interim Deputy Director, NE DHHS), Dr. Maureen Tierney (Head of HAI/AR Team, NE DHHS), Dr. Ishrat Kamal-Ahmed (HAI/AR Epidemiologist, NE DHHS), Dr. Philip Chung (Pharmacy Coordinator, NE ASAP), Sarah Hunter… Read More
The US Antibiotic Awareness Week (USAAW) is set to take place during the week of November 18 to 24 this year and coincide with similar events in Canada, Australia, Europe and one organized by the World Health Organization. Antibiotics are an important resource for saving lives, making their appropriate use a critical issue in healthcare. … Read More
On September 30th, 2019, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized a new set of Conditions of Participation for hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAH) that were originally proposed in June 2016. These regulations are intended to ensure hospitals and CAH conform to current practice standards and support improvements in quality of patient care. … Read More
A number of new tools have been posted during the month of May. A brief description of each tool is provided below. Click on the each link to download the tools. Algorithm for Management of Suspected Urinary Tract Infections in Long-Term Care Residents: This tool precisely outlines clinical parameters that should be considered when a… Read More
Written by Dr. M. Salman Ashraf, Nebraska ASAP Co-Medical Director Antibiotic Resistance is one of the most urgent threats to the public health. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics allows the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Unfortunately, a significant proportion of antibiotic use in various healthcare settings continues to be unnecessary or inappropriate. About a third (30%)… Read More
This year the U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week (USAAW) will run between November 12 to 18. Organized by the CDC, this week long campaign brings awareness to healthcare professionals and the public on the threat of antibiotic resistance and the importance of using antibiotic appropriately. The CDC has prepared a partner toolkit for institutions that want… Read More
The CDC recommends implementation of antimicrobial stewardship efforts across various healthcare settings (acute, post-acute and long-term, and ambulatory care) as a way to improve antimicrobial prescribing and ultimately to improve patient safety and care. Although various antimicrobial stewardship guidance documents serve as outlines for implementation, they are not detailed plans on how to bring AS… Read More
Page last reviewed: November 8, 2018