Antibiotic Stewardship
Combating Antibiotic Resistance
VHAN is working to increase the appropriate use of antibiotics and decrease the threat of antibiotic resistance through a new Antibiotic Stewardship Program. Antibiotic overuse significantly reduces the quality of care for both adults and children. At least 30% of outpatient-prescribed antibiotics are unnecessary, sometimes leading to ER visits for adverse drug events in patients of all ages. View suggested resources below and access all antibiotic stewardship resources, including patient education and prescribing guides, here.
Upper Respiratory
Infection (URI)
Purpose of this work:
The symptoms of upper respiratory infections (URIs) typically include runny nose, sore throat and cough. Most URIs are caused by viruses, which don’t respond to antibiotics. VHAN’s Antibiotic Stewardship Program aims to:
- RReduce antibiotic prescriptions for these infections
- RPromote treatment of symptoms at home
- RCommunicate these goals to patients
- RFacilitate a positive patient experience
Case Study: Vanderbilt Antimicrobial Stewardship Program
Antibiotic resistance caused nearly 5 million associated deaths worldwide in 2019. To fight the crisis of resistance and ensure optimum use of antibiotics, a team of Vanderbilt University Medical Center physicians and pharmacists created the Vanderbilt Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (VASP). Read more about the VASP team’s efforts below.
miniVHAN Podcast: Why Antibiotic Stewardship Matters—and How to Build a Program
Pharmacy-led programs are critical to improving chronic conditions, reducing unnecessary utilization and lowering the total cost of care—all while keeping patient goals top of mind. Join us in the miniVHAN as we discuss the importance of antibiotic stewardship, practical ideas for developing a program in your organization, and key clinical and patient engagement opportunities to consider.
Suggested Resources
