healthcare-associated infections (hai) prograM

Antimicrobial Stewardship Resources

Do you know how to be antimicrobial aware?

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most urgent threats to public health. Learn how you can be a good steward and combat antimicrobial resistance with the following educational materials, toolkits, handouts, and other resources.

Ways You Can Be Antimicrobial Aware

Patients

1. Do not use antimicrobials for viral infections such cold, flu, or COVID-19.

2. Take your prescribed antimicrobials exactly as instructed by your provider.

3. Do not share your prescribed antimicrobials or use those not prescribed to you.

4. Talk to your healthcare provider if you develop any side effects.

5. Stay healthy to keep others healthy by cleaning your hands, staying home when sick, covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing, and getting your flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Learn more on the CDC Patient Safety and Do You Need Antimicrobials? (PDF) webpages.

Nurses

1. Question the need for urine cultures in asymptomatic patients.

2. Ensure proper culturing technique to avoid contamination.

3. Record an accurate penicillin drug allergy history.

4. Encourage the prompt transition from intravenous (IV) to oral (PO) antimicrobials.

5. Prompt an antimicrobial timeout.

Learn more about the nurses’ role in antimicrobial stewardship.

Physicians and Prescribers

1. Use an antimicrobial only if indicated.

2. Use the most targeted and safe antimicrobial.

3. Use the shortest effective antimicrobial duration.

4. Document and communicate a structured and timely discharge summary

5. Educate patients and caregivers.

Learn more about being antimicrobial aware at hospital discharge (PDF).

Dentists

1. Use an antibiotic only if indicated.

2. Reserve antibiotic prophylaxis prior to dental procedures for patients at high risk of post-treatment complications.

3. Use the most targeted and safe antibiotic.

4. Use the shortest effective antibiotic duration.

5. Teach patients to take antibiotics exactly as prescribed.

Learn more about how dentists can act against antibiotic resistance (PDF).

Pharmacists

1. Verify penicillin allergy.

2. Avoid duplicative anaerobic coverage.

3. Reassess antimicrobial therapy.

4. Avoid treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria.

5. Use the shortest effective antimicrobial duration.

Learn more about how hospital pharmacists can be antimicrobial aware (PDF).

Consultant Pharmacists

1. Ensure documentation of the indication for every antimicrobial order.

2. Use the shortest effective antimicrobial duration.

3. Improve fluoroquinolone prescribing practices.

4. Avoid treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria.

5. Limit the use of prolonged antimicrobial prophylaxis for urinary tract infections.

Learn more about how consultant pharmacists can be antimicrobial aware (PDF).

Community Pharmacists

1. Educate patients about viral versus bacterial causes of acute respiratory infections (ARI).

2. Recommend strategies for ARI symptom relief.

3. Verify penicillin allergy.

4. Raise awareness of the risks of antimicrobial use.

5. Assess immunization status.

Learn more about how community pharmacists can be antimicrobial aware (PDF).

Handouts and Educational Materials

CDC Healthcare Professional Information: Detailed handouts on some of the information above and more
CDC Patient Educational Information: Resources and educational materials for patients on antimicrobial prescribing and resistance
AHQR Four Moments of Antibiotic Decision Making: Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research educational material
Five Ds in Antimicrobial Stewardship: Handout (PDF) and image for screensaver (PNG)
Do You Need an Antibiotic?: Patient Flyer (PDF)
Patients Pressuring You? Tips for Discussing Antibiotics: Provider Flyer (PDF)

CDPH Resources

Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Program: Home page on HAI and antimicrobial resistance prevention, surveillance, and reporting in California’s healthcare facilities.
CDPH HAI Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) Honor Roll: Initiative recognizing California’s top-performing ASP
California Antimicrobial Stewardship Collaborative Network (ASCN): Network fostering collaboration among California ASP
CDPH Toolkit for implementing the CDC NHSN AUR Module
Antimicrobial Resistance (AR): Resources for California facilities on AR prevention, detection, and containment strategies

Other Resources

CDC AS Core Elements: Site for the Core Elements of antimicrobial stewardship for different healthcare settings
Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)/Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) ASP implementation guidelines: Evidence-based guidelines for implementation and measurement of AS interventions in inpatient populations
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements for ASP: Updates to interpretive guidance for hospital ASP requirements

Page Last Updated : June 3, 2024

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