Tag: #BeAntibioticsAware

Nebraska Medicine is Proud to #BeAntibioticsAware

Our Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) at Nebraska Medicine has been in place since 2004. Over the years our program has changed and improved sought to expand and improve its approach with the goal of providing extraordinary care to our patients. Rather than an overly restrictive practice, our program has we have emphasized constant regular communication […]

Nov 14, 2018

Governor Ricketts Proclaims Antibiotic Awareness Week in Nebraska

Last year, Nebraska’s Governor Pete Ricketts signed a proclamation declaring Antibiotic Awareness Week in Nebraska, and he again signed a proclamation this year, declaring November 12-18 Antibiotic Awareness Week in our state. Once again, Dr. Maureen Tierney, leader of Nebraska’s Healthcare Associated Infections Program, championed the drafting of the proclamation and received support from the Governor for […]

Nov 12, 2018

Ceftazidime-avibactam resistance in carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae: what’s next on the horizon?

Ceftazidime-avibactam is approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of complicated intra-abdominal and urinary tract infections, and has activity against carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). Data regarding its real-world application and potential pitfalls is still emerging, and this review illustrates some experiences with use and emerging resistance to ceftazidime-avibactam. The authors of the first […]

Aug 15, 2018

Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Takes Patient Safety Personally

At Nebraska Medicine, our Antimicrobial Stewardship Program’s (ASP) clinical mission is to optimize the utilization of antimicrobial agents, thereby improving patient outcomes (by reducing the risk of adverse events and Clostridium difficile infection) and limiting the spread of antimicrobial resistance.   These Antimicrobial Stewardship activities have been mandated by the Joint Commission and our program has […]

Mar 14, 2018

At Nebraska Medicine, we are proud to Be Antibiotics Aware!

At Nebraska Medicine, we have been supporting Antimicrobial Stewardship activities for over a decade, and we are proud to Be Antibiotics Aware. The CDC has recognized our efforts by including the Nebraska Medicine Stewardship Program as an example for other institutions to model. We have recently partnered with the state of Nebraska to promote these activities […]

Nov 18, 2017

Be Antibiotics Aware…in the Outpatient Clinics

Nebraska Medicine and Antimicrobial Stewardship in the Outpatient Setting Antimicrobial stewardship is not only about inpatient prescribing. Recent studies measuring antibiotic use in ambulatory settings have estimated that antibiotics are prescribed inappropriately 30-77% of visits(1).  Despite being one of the leaders in implementing antimicrobial stewardship in hospitals, Nebraska ranks 44th (out of 50 states and District of Columbia) […]

Nov 17, 2017

Be Antibiotics Aware…in Small and Critical Access Hospitals

In 2014, the CDC published The Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs to assist acute care facilities implement antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP).  While these efforts were relatively successful in hospitals with more than 50 beds, they were less successful in hospitals with 25 beds or less.  In response to this disparity based on hospital […]

Nov 16, 2017

Be Antibiotics Aware…in Long-Term Care Facilities

Nebraska ASAP efforts promote antimicrobial stewardship activities in long-term care facilities across the state Up to 70% of residents in long-term care facilities receive at least one course of systemic antibiotic annually, with 40-75% of prescribed antibiotics being considered unnecessary or inappropriate.  As part of the condition for participation, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid […]

Nov 15, 2017

Be Antibiotics Aware… in Hospitals

Since 2004, (Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) at Nebraska Medicine) has been helping patients to receive the best antimicrobials for their infection, and assisting with decisions by prescribers on when to avoid giving antibiotics. The philosophy of the program is not to restrict access to life saving medications, but to focus on patient safety by guiding […]

Nov 14, 2017

Be Antibiotics Aware…to Preserve our Future

Antimicrobial Stewardship: Preserving the Future Antimicrobials were an amazing discovery and have been appropriately credited, along with vaccination and sanitation, with the significant improvements in human life expectancy over the last century.  With their amazing impact has come the opportunity for new therapies including organ transplant, complex surgery, and care for extremely preterm infants.  The […]

Nov 13, 2017