Antibiotic Stewardship from Coursera

Antimicrobial Stewardship: Improving Clinical Outcomes by Optimization of Antibiotic Practices

Internet Enduring Material Sponsored by: Stanford University School of Medicine

Presented by: The Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine

NOTE: These videos were produced as part of a free online course offered by the Stanford Center for Continuing Medical Education (SCCME). If you wish to receive credit for your participation in the course, you will need to complete the full course on the SCCME website at: http://cme.stanford.edu/online. The course version on Coursera does not offer CME credit.

Course Description

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.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Welcome

Principles of Antimicrobial Use

Optimal Management of Common Infections

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores principles of appropriate antibiotic use, which is standard in healthcare

Teaches optimal management of common infections, which helps learners improve patient outcomes

Develops essential functions of antimicrobial stewardship programs, which are core skills for healthcare professionals involved in antimicrobial stewardship

Examines advanced antimicrobial stewardship activities, which is highly relevant to healthcare professionals seeking to develop and maintain effective antimicrobial stewardship programs

Offers 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

Taught by faculty from Stanford University School of Medicine, who are recognized for their work in infectious diseases and geographic medicine

Reviews summary

Foundational principles of antibiotic stewardship

According to learners, this course offers a valuable introduction to the principles of antibiotic stewardship. Students highlight the practical focus, particularly through relevant case studies, as helpful for applying concepts in clinical settings. It is generally considered a solid course for healthcare professionals seeking to improve antibiotic use and outcomes. Some reviewers note that while it provides a strong foundation, more experienced individuals might find the content somewhat basic and may require additional resources for advanced topics. The fact that the Coursera version does not offer CME credit is also a point of note for some.

Important topic for addressing antibiotic resistance

"Crucial topic for current healthcare challenges."

"The content is highly relevant to improving patient outcomes."

"Helps address the critical issue of antibiotic resistance."

Excellent overview for improving antibiotic practices

"Provides an excellent overview of ASP principles."

"This course gave me a solid understanding needed for my role."

"Highly recommend this course for anyone looking to improve antibiotic use."

Applying principles to real-world scenarios

"The case studies provided were incredibly relevant to my practice."

"Applying the principles through cases solidified my understanding."

"Found the examples of common infections very helpful for clinical decision-making."

Note that CME credit is not offered on Coursera

"Disappointed that CME credit isn't available through this platform."

"It's a good course, but the lack of CME is a downside for me."

"Remember this version does not provide CME credits."

May be basic for experienced professionals

"Content is great for beginners but a bit basic for experienced clinicians."

"Could have gone into more detail on specific resistance mechanisms or complex cases."

"Wish there was more advanced content included."

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 Antibiotic Stewardship with these activities:

Solve Practice Questions

Show steps

Solving practice questions can help reinforce your understanding of the core principles of antimicrobial stewardship

Show steps

Access practice questions from online resources or textbooks
Set a time limit and answer the questions independently
Review your answers and identify areas where you need further clarification

Develop an Antimicrobial Stewardship Toolkit

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Creating an antimicrobial stewardship toolkit will provide you with a practical resource that you can use in your own practice

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Identify the essential components of an antimicrobial stewardship toolkit
Research and gather relevant resources, such as guidelines, algorithms, and educational materials
Organize and compile these resources into a user-friendly format
Share your toolkit with colleagues for feedback and refinement

Show all two activities

Career center

Learners who complete Antibiotic Stewardship will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Infection Control Nurse

Infection Control Nurses work to prevent the spread of infections, and they are in high demand in healthcare settings. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become an Infection Control Nurse, including understanding antimicrobial stewardship principles, developing and implementing infection control programs, and educating patients and staff about infection prevention and control.

See salaries and explore the career path for Infection Control Nurse

Pharmacist

Pharmacists play a vital role in antimicrobial stewardship, as they are responsible for ensuring that antibiotics are used appropriately and effectively. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a Pharmacist, including understanding antimicrobial stewardship principles, optimizing antibiotic use, and monitoring for adverse drug reactions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Pharmacist

Physician Assistant

Physician Assistants are responsible for providing medical care under the supervision of a physician. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a Physician Assistant, including understanding antimicrobial stewardship principles, managing common infections, and developing and implementing antimicrobial stewardship programs.

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Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioners are responsible for providing medical care under the supervision of a physician. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a Nurse Practitioner, including understanding antimicrobial stewardship principles, managing common infections, and developing and implementing antimicrobial stewardship programs.

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Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists investigate the causes and patterns of disease. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become an Epidemiologist, including understanding antimicrobial stewardship principles, conducting epidemiological studies, and developing and implementing infection prevention and control programs.

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Microbiologist

Microbiologists study microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a Microbiologist, including understanding antimicrobial stewardship principles, identifying and characterizing microorganisms, and developing and implementing antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods.

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Research Scientist

Research Scientists conduct research on a variety of topics, including antimicrobial stewardship. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a Research Scientist, including understanding antimicrobial stewardship principles, designing and conducting research studies, and analyzing and interpreting data.

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Healthcare Administrator

Healthcare Administrators manage the day-to-day operations of healthcare organizations. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a Healthcare Administrator, including understanding antimicrobial stewardship principles, developing and implementing antimicrobial stewardship programs, and managing healthcare budgets.

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Public Health Educator

Public Health Educators promote health and prevent disease in communities. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a Public Health Educator, including understanding antimicrobial stewardship principles, developing and implementing public health education campaigns, and evaluating the effectiveness of public health programs.

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Infection Preventionist

Infection Preventionists work to prevent the spread of infections in healthcare settings. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become an Infection Preventionist, including understanding antimicrobial stewardship principles, developing and implementing infection prevention and control programs, and educating patients and staff about infection prevention and control.

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Quality Improvement Specialist

Quality Improvement Specialists work to improve the quality of healthcare services. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a Quality Improvement Specialist, including understanding antimicrobial stewardship principles, developing and implementing quality improvement programs, and evaluating the effectiveness of quality improvement initiatives.

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Clinical Research Coordinator

Clinical Research Coordinators manage clinical research studies. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a Clinical Research Coordinator, including understanding antimicrobial stewardship principles, managing clinical research studies, and protecting human research subjects.

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Health Policy Analyst

Health Policy Analysts analyze and develop health policies. This course may help you develop the skills you need to become a Health Policy Analyst, including understanding antimicrobial stewardship principles, analyzing health policy data, and developing and recommending health policy proposals.

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Medical Writer

Medical Writers write about medical topics for a variety of audiences. This course may help you develop the skills you need to become a Medical Writer, including understanding antimicrobial stewardship principles, writing clear and concise medical content, and meeting the needs of different audiences.

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Science Writer

Science Writers write about scientific topics for a variety of audiences. This course may help you develop the skills you need to become a Science Writer, including understanding antimicrobial stewardship principles, writing clear and concise scientific content, and meeting the needs of different audiences.

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