Description

The topics of antibiotic stewardship and antibiotic use are ongoing in the long-term care facility community. This webinar will explore different approaches to these topics that are taking place in facilities in two different states.

Antibiotic stewardship is an issue of public health importance and a requirement of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This program will address approaches to antibiotic stewardship in nursing homes using the Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship. The speakers will also raise awareness and describe the judicious use of antibiotics in LTC facilities.

Dr. Czaja will cover the importance of, opportunities for, and approach to antibiotic stewardship in nursing homes using examples from his work in Colorado.

Dr. Tarkhashvili will define the magnitude of antibiotic use in South Dakota LTC facilities by providing insight on its use for urinary tract and upper respiratory tract infections. He will also describe the most commonly used antibiotics in the LTC setting and review their usage rates and trends.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify reasons why antibiotic stewardship is important in nursing homes and list the seven Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship in nursing homes.
• Identify systematic approaches to improving antimicrobial use in nursing homes.
• Explain the need to measure antibiotic consumption in this population.
• Describe the South Dakota Department of Health’s approach to measuring and reducing antibiotic consumption in LTC facilities.

Speaker(s):

• Christopher A. Czaja, MD MPH
• Nato Tarkhashvili, MD