World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW) is held from November 12 to 18 each year. This is a global campaign to promote the prudent use of antimicrobials such as antibiotics and to raise global awareness about AMR or resistance to antimicrobials. antibiotics.

What is the stewardship of antibiotics and why is it important?

Antibiotic management is a top priority for health care providers, government agencies, health care certification bodies and insurers. Antibiotic management simply means the judicious use of antibiotics. Since few new antibiotics are being developed and the bacteria that cause infections develop antibiotic resistance, we need to use the right antibiotic at the right dose, at the right time, and for a long time. appropriate duration.

What are our federal and state governments doing about antibiotic management?

In 2013, the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) alerted health care providers to the growing threat of antibiotic resistance in its report on the threat of antibiotic resistance in the United States.

Then, in 2014, the CDC published its basic elements of hospital-based antibiotic management programs and, in 2015, published similar guidelines for retirement homes. These guidelines outline how health care providers can use antibiotics wisely. In Indiana, some infections caused by resistant bacteria must be reported to the state's health department in order to track trends and improve best practices.

In addition, in 2015, President Obama convened a conference of medical leaders at the White House to develop a plan to fight antibiotic resistance, which culminated in the National Action Plan. to fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

What is my doctor doing about antibiotic management?

In the doctor's office, your doctor will determine, depending on your symptoms, the season of the year and infections occurring in our community, if your illness is probably caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Recognizing this difference is important because antibiotics will not cure a viral infection such as a cold or the flu and could worsen the situation later by promoting the development of antibiotic resistance.

When your doctor thinks your infection is caused by a virus, antibiotics will not help and could make things worse. On the other hand, if your infection is caused by a bacterium, choosing the right antibiotic, taking it as it is indicated and letting it go until everything is gone can make all the difference to cure your infection.

What does my hospital do about antibiotic management?

At the hospital, blood, tissue and / or urine cultures are used to identify the bacterium that causes your infection and indicate which antibiotics will help eliminate this bacteria. which antibiotics will not work. Choosing the right antibiotic from the beginning is important to prevent treatment failure and possible side effects.

For 2017, the Joint Commission, which accredits hospitals, has proposed eight hospital accreditation standards dealing directly with antibiotic stewardship; The Memorial Health Center at Indiana University is fully compliant with these eight proposed standards. Every day at Ball Memorial Hospital, a team of infectious disease physicians, surgeons, infection prevention nurses, epidemiologists and pharmacists help physicians and front-line nurses make the best use of their resources. antibiotics by monitoring bacterial resistance and patient response.

What can I do about antibiotic management?

If your health care provider determines that your infection is due to a virus, it is in your best interest not to take antibiotics. Some people think that having already had nausea or vomiting related to the use of an antibiotic means that they are "allergic" to this antibiotic. However, it really means that at that time you could not tolerate this antibiotic. The nausea or vomiting you have been feeling may be due to the antibiotic, or some other, unrelated cause that occurred at the same time. It is important to distinguish between temporary intolerance and a true allergy, as your doctor may need to choose another antibiotic that may not be the best choice for your situation. If you have intolerance, you may still be able to take this antibiotic, which may be a better choice than some of the alternatives.

The Joint Commission has developed patient education support to help us all make good use of antibiotics.

Richard G. Lugar, PharmD, BCPS, is an antibiotic stewardship pharmacist at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital. For more information, contact Lugar at [email protected], call 765-281-6566 or visit iuhealth.org.

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