What is antibiotic stewardship?

The CDC defines antibiotic stewardship as the effort to measure and improve how antibiotics are prescribed by clinicians and used by patients. Improving antibiotic prescribing and use is critical to effectively treat infections, protect patients from harms caused by unnecessary antibiotic use, and combat antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic stewardship can be used in all health care settings in which antibiotics are prescribed and remains a cornerstone of efforts aimed at improving antibiotic-related patient safety and slowing the spread of antibiotic resistance. The goal of antibiotic stewardship is to maximize the benefit of antibiotic treatment while minimizing harm both to individual persons and to communities.
https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/core-elements/outpatient.html

 

What is antibiotic resistance and how does it occur?

Antibiotics are lifesaving medications that we have come to rely on to treat bacterial infections. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria adapt to no longer be susceptible to antibiotics. Though this is a naturally occurring process, antibiotic resistance is being amplified by the overuse of antibiotics in across the globe.  This resistance leads to higher medical costs, lengthened hospital stays, and increased mortality.

 

Precious Drugs & Scary Bugs Campaign

Hektoen is working to combat antibiotic resistance by offering antibiotic stewardship support to outpatient healthcare facilities through the reinstatement of the IDPH Precious Drugs and Scary Bugs (PDSB) Campaign.  This campaign promoted judicious antibiotic use by engaging outpatient professionals to:

  • Increase knowledge related to antibiotic resistance and appropriate prescribing
  • Provide resources to support healthcare providers in improving antibiotic prescribing
  • Improve coordination and exchange of antibiotic stewardship best practices among stakeholders.

Participating Healthcare Professionals will:

  • Complete a baseline survey, available here
  • Make a commitment to promote appropriate antibiotic stewardship in their facility
  • Review the outpatient antibiotic stewardship toolkit available here
  • Survey patient population about their attitudes about antibiotics
    • Top 25 providers with the most patient feedback will be eligible to have Hektoen sponsor their participation in the MAD-ID Antibiotic Stewardship Training Program
  • Complete a post intervention survey

Resources

2023 Illinois Summit on Antimicrobial Stewardship

About the Campaign

Antibiotic Stewardship Toolkit for Outpatient Providers

Provider Commitment Form

Sample Commitment Poster

Frequently Asked Questions