This CE activity was originally published in The Rx Consultant. If you received credit for it previously, you cannot receive credit for it again.
Antibiotic stewardship is the effort to improve antibiotic prescribing so that antibiotics are used correctly - and only when needed. It includes monitoring antibiotic prescribing; avoiding unnecessary use; minimizing underuse due to missed or delayed diagnoses; and, when an antibiotic is needed, ensuring selection of the appropriate drug, dose, route of administration, and duration of therapy. The goal of antibiotic stewardship is to treat infections effectively, while minimizing unintended consequences of antibiotic use. These include side effects (eg, antibioticassociated diarrhea, especially that caused by Clostridium difficile infection) and the emergence of antibiotic resistance.
Despite the growing problem of antibiotic resistance, FDA approval of new antibiotics declined by about 80% between 1983 and 2012, providing fewer new treatments for drug-resistant bacterial infections. The emergence of antibiotic resistance cannot be stopped; however, the pace at which it evolves can be slowed. Antibiotic overuse and inappropriate use are important modifiable behaviors that contribute to resistance. In the US, the majority of antibiotic use occurs in the community, and a substantial percentage of these prescriptions are inappropriate. An estimated 30% of outpatient antibiotic prescriptions in the US are unnecessary.
National organizations, including the White House and the CDC, recognize the threat posed by antibiotic resistance and have committed to several strategies to combat it. In 2015, the White House released the "National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria" (CARB), laying the foundation for collaborative action among various groups and individuals worldwide. A major goal is that, by 2020, aggressive action by all those involved will improve antibiotic use across all US healthcare settings...
Fee
CE Hours
CE Units
Activity Type
- Knowledge
Target Audience(s)
- Pharmacists, Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, and Registered Nurses
Accreditation(s)
CE activities for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians:
This continuing education (CE) activity meets the requirements of all state boards of pharmacy for approved continuing education hours. CE credit is automatically reported to CPE Monitor.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for formally approved continuing education (CE) hours, and CE hours of pharmacotherapeutics.
The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) for acceptable, accredited CE.
- The ANCC requires all advanced practice nursing certificants (CNSs and NPs) to complete 25 CE hours of pharmacotherapeutics as a portion of the required 75 continuing education hours.
- Pharmacology CE is recommended by the AANPCP and will be required for Certificants renewing certification starting January 2017.
- Most State Boards of Nursing require a minimum number of pharmacy contact hours to renew an advanced practice license.
Requirements for CE Credit
Objectives
- Review mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and its spread. Describe current antibiotic resistance trends in the US.
- Describe the extent of overuse and misuse of antibiotics in the US and the patient harms that can occur with antibiotic use.
- Review the CDC’s recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of common outpatient respiratory infections.
- Discuss the CDC's 4 components of an outpatient antibiotic stewardship program. Provide examples of how community providers may be involved in stewardship programs and strategies that can help improve antibiotic use.
Speaker(s)/Author(s)
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Chris Stock, PharmD, BCPP |
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Pamela Mausner, MD Brief Bio : Pamela Mausner, MD; Medical Writer/Editor and Healthcare Advocate; and Associate Editor, The Rx Consultant. |
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Tracy Farnen, PharmD Brief Bio : Tracy Farnen, PharmD; Managing Editor, The Rx Consultant. |
Activity Number
0428-0000-17-005-H01-P