Antimicrobial Stewardship: Improving Clinical Outcomes By Optimization of Antibiotic Practices from edX

Overview

Internet Enduring Material provided by Stanford University School of Medicine. Presented by the Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. Sponsored by the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Antibiotics are among the most frequently prescribed classes of drugs and it is estimated that approximately 50% of antibiotic use, in both the outpatient and inpatient settings, is inappropriate. At the same time, in contrast to any other class of drugs, every antibiotic use has a potential public health consequence – inappropriate use may not harm only the individual patient, but contributes to societal harm by exerting an unnecessary selective pressure that may lead to antibiotic resistance among bacteria.

This video based course will introduce learners to the basic principles of appropriate antibiotic use, demonstrate how to apply these principles to the management of common infections, and outline how to develop and maintain an antimicrobial stewardship program. We will offer a number of illustrative cases, recognizable to the practicing physician in his or her practice to engage learners in the thought processes that lead to optimal decision making, improved outcomes of individual patients, and harm reduction vis-a-vis the bacterial ecology. The course will also explore strategies to implement principles of antimicrobial stewardship both in your practice and also at a program level.

Intended Audience

This course will offer a practical approach to prescribing antibiotic therapy and development of antimicrobial stewardship to physicians and pharmacists across all specialties and settings.

Accreditation

In support of improving patient care, Stanford Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Credit DesignationAmerican Medical Association (AMA)

The Stanford University School of Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 7.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

If you would like to earn CME credit from Stanford University School of Medicine for participating in this course, please review the information here prior to beginning the activity.

Additional Instructors

Niaz Banaei, MDRaj Behal, MD, MPH Kristi Kuper, PharmD, BCPSAnne Liu, MDPreeti N. Malani, MD, MSJ, MSJason Newland, MD, MEd, FPIDS Susan Seo, MD Edward A. Stenehjem, MD, MSc Kavita Trivedi, MD Danilo Lo Fo Wong, PhD Thomas M File Jr., MD, MSc, MACP, FIDSA, FCCPConan MacDougall, PharmD, MAS, BCPSLina Meng, PharmD, BCPS, BCCP

What's inside

Learning objectives

Apply idsa guidelines in treating infections such as acute rhino-sinusitis, cystitis and acute bronchitis.
Incorporate guidelines/standardized protocols to diagnose and prescribe antibiotic therapy for treating sepsis.

Develop strategies to implement evidence based practices for antimicrobial stewardship in your practice setting.
Develop a plan to lead an antimicrobial stewardship program.

Apply idsa guidelines in treating infections such as acute rhino-sinusitis, cystitis and acute bronchitis.
Incorporate guidelines/standardized protocols to diagnose and prescribe antibiotic therapy for treating sepsis.
Develop strategies to implement evidence based practices for antimicrobial stewardship in your practice setting.
Develop a plan to lead an antimicrobial stewardship program.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Develops strategies to implement evidence based practices for antimicrobial stewardship in your practice setting

Explores strategies to implement principles of antimicrobial stewardship both in your practice and also at a program level

Applies IDSA guidelines in treating infections such as acute rhino-sinusitis, cystitis and acute bronchitis

Introduces learners to the basic principles of appropriate antibiotic use

Led by 13 recognized experts on the topic

Teaches to apply principles to the management of common infections

Reviews summary

Antimicrobial stewardship: clinical outcomes optimization

Learners say this course offers a highly practical and relevant approach to antimicrobial stewardship, essential for healthcare professionals. The course's strengths lie in its clear presentation of IDSA guidelines, actionable strategies for common infections, and focus on developing stewardship programs. Many appreciate the illustrative clinical cases that enhance understanding and applicability. While largely praised for its comprehensive content and CME credit, some more experienced practitioners found certain sections to be a bit basic or repetitive, wishing for more advanced content. Overall, it's considered a valuable resource for improving antibiotic practices.

Offers valuable continuing medical education credits.

"The CME credit is a huge plus, making this course even more beneficial for my professional development."

"Earning CME credit from Stanford University School of Medicine made this course highly valuable for pharmacists like me."

"The CME offering was a definite draw, adding significant professional value to the course."

Guides learners in establishing or leading programs.

"The information on developing a stewardship program was particularly useful, and I've already started implementing some strategies."

"I gained actionable strategies for developing antimicrobial stewardship programs."

"This course equipped me to develop a plan to lead an antimicrobial stewardship program in my setting."

Enhances understanding with real-world scenarios.

"I particularly appreciated the case studies, which made the material very relatable to my practice."

"The clinical cases were highly relevant and helped solidify the concepts."

"The illustrative cases really helped me understand the thought processes leading to optimal decisions."

Provides actionable strategies for clinical practice.

"The content on IDSA guidelines and practical application for common infections was invaluable."

"It covered key principles of antimicrobial stewardship and offered practical strategies."

"I learned how to apply practical strategies for optimizing antibiotic practices in my work."

Content can be basic for experienced professionals.

"Some parts felt a bit basic for an experienced physician, but overall, it's a solid foundation."

"I was hoping for more advanced content on specific drug interactions or resistance mechanisms."

"I found some of the information repetitive, and the pace was a bit slow in certain sections."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Antimicrobial Stewardship: Improving Clinical Outcomes By Optimization of Antibiotic Practices with these activities:

Follow tutorials on antibiotic resistance

Show steps

Following tutorials on antibiotic resistance will help you learn about the causes and consequences of antibiotic resistance.

Browse courses on Antibiotic Resistance

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Find tutorials on antibiotic resistance online.
Watch the tutorials.
Complete the exercises in the tutorials.

Read "Antibiotic Resistance: A Global Threat"

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Reading this book will give you an in-depth understanding of the problem of antibiotic resistance and what can be done to address it.

View Hunter's Tropical Medicine and Emerging... on Amazon

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Purchase or borrow the book.
Read the book.
Write a summary of the book.

Review the basics of infectious diseases

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Reviewing the basics of infectious diseases will help you better understand the content of this course.

Browse courses on Infectious Diseases

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Read the CDC's website on infectious diseases.
Watch the Khan Academy video on infectious diseases.
Take a practice quiz on infectious diseases.

Six other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all nine activities

Volunteer at a local hospital or clinic

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Volunteering at a local hospital or clinic will give you the opportunity to see how antimicrobial stewardship is practiced in the real world.

Browse courses on Antimicrobial Stewardship

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Find a local hospital or clinic that offers volunteer opportunities.
Apply to volunteer.
Complete the volunteer training.
Volunteer at the hospital or clinic.

Practice in Prescribing Antibiotics

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Practicing prescribing antibiotics by applying IDSA guidelines can help you develop fluency in treating infections and reduce errors.

Browse courses on Antimicrobial Stewardship

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Review IDSA guidelines for treating infections like acute rhino-sinusitis, cystitis, and acute bronchitis.
Apply guidelines to diagnose and prescribe antibiotic therapy for treating sepsis.
Work through practice cases to reinforce your understanding.

Solve practice questions on antibiotic therapy

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Practicing solving questions on antibiotic therapy will help you apply the concepts you learn in this course to real-world scenarios.

Show steps

Find practice questions on antibiotic therapy online.
Solve the practice questions.
Check your answers against the answer key.

Antimicrobial Stewardship Plan

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Creating an Antimicrobial Stewardship Plan will allow you to organize and consolidate your knowledge of principles and strategies for implementing effective antibiotic use practices.

Browse courses on Antimicrobial Stewardship

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Gather resources and information on antimicrobial stewardship.
Develop strategies for implementing evidence-based practices.
Outline a plan for leading an antimicrobial stewardship program.
Present your plan to a relevant audience for feedback.

Develop a case study on antimicrobial stewardship

Show steps

Developing a case study on antimicrobial stewardship will help you understand the principles of antimicrobial stewardship and how to apply them in practice.

Browse courses on Antimicrobial Stewardship

Show steps

Identify a clinical case that involves antimicrobial stewardship.
Research the principles of antimicrobial stewardship.
Develop a case study that illustrates the principles of antimicrobial stewardship.
Present your case study to your peers.

Mentor a student or colleague on antibiotic therapy

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Mentoring a student or colleague on antibiotic therapy will help you reinforce your knowledge and understanding of the topic.

Show steps

Identify a student or colleague who is interested in learning about antibiotic therapy.
Meet with the student or colleague regularly to discuss antibiotic therapy.
Provide the student or colleague with resources and support.

Career center

Learners who complete Antimicrobial Stewardship: Improving Clinical Outcomes By Optimization of Antibiotic Practices will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Medical Doctor

Medical Doctors are responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries. They also provide preventive care and counseling to patients. This course would be helpful for Medical Doctors who want to learn more about antimicrobial stewardship, which is the appropriate use of antibiotics to prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The course would help Medical Doctors to improve their prescribing practices and to develop and implement antimicrobial stewardship programs in their hospitals or clinics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Medical Doctor

Pharmacist

Pharmacists are responsible for the dispensing and monitoring of medications. They also provide information and counseling to patients about their medications. This course would be helpful for Pharmacists who want to learn more about antimicrobial stewardship, which is the appropriate use of antibiotics to prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The course would help Pharmacists to improve their prescribing practices and to develop and implement antimicrobial stewardship programs in their hospitals or clinics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Pharmacist

Infection Control Nurse

Infection Control Nurses are responsible for preventing and controlling infections in hospitals and other healthcare settings. They also provide education and training to staff and patients on infection control practices. This course would be useful for Infection Control Nurses who want to learn more about antimicrobial stewardship, which is the appropriate use of antibiotics to prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The course would help Infection Control Nurses to develop and implement antimicrobial stewardship programs in their hospitals or clinics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Infection Control Nurse

Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists are responsible for investigating and controlling the spread of diseases. They also work to prevent the development of new diseases. This course would be useful for Epidemiologists who want to learn more about antimicrobial stewardship, which is the appropriate use of antibiotics to prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The course would help Epidemiologists to understand the epidemiology of antibiotic resistance and to develop and implement antimicrobial stewardship programs in their communities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Epidemiologist

Microbiologist

Microbiologists are responsible for studying microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. They also work to develop new antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents. This course would be useful for Microbiologists who want to learn more about antimicrobial stewardship, which is the appropriate use of antibiotics to prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The course would help Microbiologists to understand the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and to develop new strategies to combat it.

See salaries and explore the career path for Microbiologist

Physician Assistant

Physician Assistants are responsible for providing medical care to patients under the supervision of a physician. They also perform a variety of tasks, such as taking medical histories, performing physical exams, and prescribing medications. This course would be useful for Physician Assistants who want to learn more about antimicrobial stewardship, which is the appropriate use of antibiotics to prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The course would help Physician Assistants to improve their prescribing practices and to develop and implement antimicrobial stewardship programs in their clinics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Physician Assistant

Registered Nurse

Registered Nurses are responsible for providing care to patients in hospitals and other healthcare settings. They also provide education and counseling to patients and their families. This course would be useful for Registered Nurses who want to learn more about antimicrobial stewardship, which is the appropriate use of antibiotics to prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The course would help Registered Nurses to improve their prescribing practices and to develop and implement antimicrobial stewardship programs in their hospitals or clinics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Registered Nurse

Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioners are responsible for providing primary care to patients. They also perform a variety of tasks, such as taking medical histories, performing physical exams, and prescribing medications. This course would be useful for Nurse Practitioners who want to learn more about antimicrobial stewardship, which is the appropriate use of antibiotics to prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The course would help Nurse Practitioners to improve their prescribing practices and to develop and implement antimicrobial stewardship programs in their clinics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nurse Practitioner

Medical Laboratory Scientist

Medical Laboratory Scientists are responsible for performing laboratory tests to diagnose and monitor diseases. They also work to develop new diagnostic tests and technologies. This course would be useful for Medical Laboratory Scientists who want to learn more about antimicrobial stewardship, which is the appropriate use of antibiotics to prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The course would help Medical Laboratory Scientists to understand the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and to develop new strategies to combat it.

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Clinical Research Coordinator

Clinical Research Coordinators are responsible for managing clinical trials. They also work to ensure that clinical trials are conducted in a safe and ethical manner. This course would be useful for Clinical Research Coordinators who want to learn more about antimicrobial stewardship, which is the appropriate use of antibiotics to prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The course would help Clinical Research Coordinators to understand the importance of antimicrobial stewardship and to develop and implement antimicrobial stewardship programs in their clinical trials.

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Healthcare Administrator

Healthcare Administrators are responsible for managing the operations of healthcare organizations. They also work to develop and implement policies and procedures. This course would be useful for Healthcare Administrators who want to learn more about antimicrobial stewardship, which is the appropriate use of antibiotics to prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The course would help Healthcare Administrators to understand the importance of antimicrobial stewardship and to develop and implement antimicrobial stewardship programs in their healthcare organizations.

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Policy Analyst

Policy Analysts are responsible for developing and analyzing public policy. They also work to advocate for政策d change. This course would be useful for Policy Analysts who want to learn more about antimicrobial stewardship, which is the appropriate use of antibiotics to prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The course would help Policy Analysts to understand the importance of antimicrobial stewardship and to develop and advocate for policies that promote antimicrobial stewardship.

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Public Health Educator

Public Health Educators are responsible for educating the public about health issues. They also work to promote healthy behaviors and lifestyles. This course would be useful for Public Health Educators who want to learn more about antimicrobial stewardship, which is the appropriate use of antibiotics to prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The course would help Public Health Educators to understand the importance of antimicrobial stewardship and to develop and implement public education campaigns that promote antimicrobial stewardship.

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Science Writer

Science Writers are responsible for writing about scientific topics for the general public. They also work to translate scientific information into language that is easy to understand. This course would be useful for Science Writers who want to learn more about antimicrobial stewardship, which is the appropriate use of antibiotics to prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The course would help Science Writers to understand the importance of antimicrobial stewardship and to write about it in a way that is clear and engaging to the public.

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Health Communications Specialist

Health Communications Specialists are responsible for developing and implementing health communication campaigns. They also work to promote health literacy and to reduce health disparities. This course would be useful for Health Communications Specialists who want to learn more about antimicrobial stewardship, which is the appropriate use of antibiotics to prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The course would help Health Communications Specialists to understand the importance of antimicrobial stewardship and to develop and implement health communication campaigns that promote antimicrobial stewardship.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Communications Specialist