To Prescribe or Not To Prescribe? Antibiotics and Outpatient Infections from edX

Overview

Enduring Material Sponsored by Stanford University School of Medicine. Presented by the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine.

This CME activity provides a practical approach to the management of common outpatient infections through the use of didactic videos, patient role plays and interactive case based video. National guidelines will be reviewed with emphasis on the most appropriate empiric antibiotic choice and duration of therapy. Video role plays will demonstrate communication skills that can be used with patients regarding appropriate antibiotic usage.

Intended Audience

This course is designed for physicians in family practice, primary care, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, emergency medicine, pharmacists, as well as nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and allied health professionals.

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 1.75 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

Emily Mui, PharmD, BCPS Katherine E. Fleming-Dutra, MD Lauri Hicks, DO

What's inside

Learning objectives

Define the scope and implications of antibiotic misuse in the outpatient setting.
Recognize when antimicrobials are indicated in common outpatient infections.

Select the most appropriate empiric antimicrobial choice and duration of therapy for common outpatient bacterial infections.
Employ effective communication strategies when discussing antibiotic decisions with patients.

Define the scope and implications of antibiotic misuse in the outpatient setting.
Recognize when antimicrobials are indicated in common outpatient infections.
Select the most appropriate empiric antimicrobial choice and duration of therapy for common outpatient bacterial infections.
Employ effective communication strategies when discussing antibiotic decisions with patients.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Covers common outpatient infections, equipping learners with practical management knowledge

Emphasizes appropriate antibiotic selection and duration for treating infections

Utilizes didactic videos, patient role plays, and case-based videos for effective learning

Taught by medical professionals from Stanford University, ensuring credibility and expertise

Provides CE credits, making it beneficial for medical professionals seeking continuing education

Intended for a wide audience, including physicians, pharmacists, and allied health professionals

Reviews summary

Practical antibiotic prescribing for clinicians

According to students, this course offers a highly practical and directly applicable approach to antibiotic stewardship in outpatient settings. Learners consistently praised its clear explanations of empiric antibiotic choices and integration of up-to-date national guidelines. A frequently highlighted strength is the focus on effective communication strategies, particularly through engaging patient role plays, which are seen as immediately useful in clinical practice. While generally considered concise and relevant for most healthcare professionals, some experienced practitioners felt certain case studies were simplistic or desired more advanced insights into complex scenarios, suggesting it provides a strong foundational knowledge or an excellent refresher.

An efficient and recognized way to earn professional credits.

"I earned my CME credits easily from this course."

"It's a highly effective and efficient way to earn CME."

"I appreciated that it fulfilled CME requirements."

Presents current guidelines and choices concisely.

"I particularly appreciated the up-to-date guidelines and the clear explanations on empiric antibiotic choice."

"The material is concise, well-organized, and very relevant."

"I found this a well-structured course with very relevant information for today's clinical practice."

Enhances patient communication skills through role plays.

"The patient role plays were a highlight, demonstrating effective communication strategies for antibiotic stewardship."

"I found the communication tips very useful, especially for dealing with patient expectations."

"The communication strategies for patient discussions are truly practical and something I can use immediately."

Directly applicable to daily clinical practice.

"This course was incredibly practical and directly applicable to my daily practice as a primary care physician."

"Absolutely excellent! ... this course gave me the confidence to make more informed decisions regarding antibiotic prescriptions."

"I learned how to use practical strategies for patient communication, which is crucial."

Provides solid basics, but less depth for advanced learners.

"The content itself is solid, but I felt the course could benefit from more complex scenarios or discussions on emerging resistance patterns."

"For someone with years of experience, it might feel a bit too foundational."

"While it fulfills CME, I was hoping for more advanced insights into complex cases or specific patient populations."

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 To Prescribe or Not To Prescribe? Antibiotics and Outpatient Infections with these activities:

Review current approaches to common outpatient infections

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Improve retention and understanding of principles and treatment of outpatient infections.

Browse courses on Antibiotics

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Review relevant sections of Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine or a similar textbook.
Take a practice quiz or exam covering common outpatient infections.

Explore online resources for antibiotic prescribing guidelines

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Enhance understanding of appropriate antibiotic selection and duration of therapy.

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Visit websites such as the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) or UpToDate.
Review specific guidelines for common infections such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and skin and soft tissue infections.

Participate in a case-based discussion group

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Enhance communication skills and gain insights from others.

Browse courses on Antimicrobial Stewardship

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Join a study group or online forum dedicated to discussing antibiotic management of outpatient infections.
Prepare for discussions by reviewing relevant materials and identifying questions.
Actively participate in discussions, present cases, and provide feedback to peers.

Five other activities

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Practice antibiotic selection for common outpatient infections

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Reinforce decision-making skills in real-world scenarios.

Browse courses on Antibiotic Resistance

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Use online resources or textbooks to review clinical presentations and diagnostic criteria for common outpatient infections.
Practice selecting empiric antibiotics based on patient history, physical examination, and laboratory findings.
Discuss with a peer or mentor to compare answers and identify areas for improvement.

Attend a workshop on advanced antibiotic management

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Gain in-depth knowledge from experts and network with other healthcare professionals.

Browse courses on Antimicrobial Stewardship

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Identify conferences or workshops that offer advanced topics in antibiotic management.
Attend the workshop and actively participate in lectures, discussions, and hands-on activities.
Connect with experts and other attendees to exchange ideas and best practices.

Develop a personalized antibiotic prescribing guideline

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Reinforce knowledge and promote standardization of antibiotic prescribing practices.

Browse courses on Antimicrobial Stewardship

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Gather information from reputable sources, including IDSA guidelines and hospital policies.
Customize the guideline based on specific practice settings and patient population.
Share the guideline with colleagues for feedback and implementation.

Mentor junior learners or medical students in antibiotic management

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Enhance understanding through teaching and provide guidance to future healthcare professionals.

Browse courses on Mentorship

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Identify opportunities to mentor junior learners, such as through volunteering at teaching hospitals or participating in mentorship programs.
Provide guidance on antibiotic selection, dosing, and monitoring.
Share experiences and insights to help mentees develop their clinical skills and knowledge.

Contribute to open-source projects in antimicrobial stewardship

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Enhance understanding of best practices and contribute to the development of tools and resources used in the field.

Browse courses on Antimicrobial Stewardship

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Identify open-source projects focused on antimicrobial stewardship, such as the Antibiotic Resistance Database or the CDC's Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs.
Explore ways to contribute, such as reporting bugs, suggesting improvements, or creating new features.
Work collaboratively with the project team to enhance the project and improve antibiotic prescribing practices.

Career center

Learners who complete To Prescribe or Not To Prescribe? Antibiotics and Outpatient Infections will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Primary Care Physician

A Primary Care Physician (PCP) is responsible for providing primary care to patients of all ages. This course would be particularly helpful for PCPs in making decisions about when to prescribe antibiotics for common outpatient infections. The course covers the latest guidelines on antibiotic use and provides practical tips for communicating with patients about antibiotics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Primary Care Physician

Physician Assistant

A Physician Assistant (PA) is a healthcare professional who is licensed to practice medicine under the supervision of a physician. PAs can work in a variety of settings, including primary care, internal medicine, and emergency medicine. This course would be helpful for PAs in making decisions about when to prescribe antibiotics for common outpatient infections. The course covers the latest guidelines on antibiotic use and provides practical tips for communicating with patients about antibiotics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Physician Assistant

Nurse Practitioner

A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a healthcare professional who is licensed to practice medicine under the supervision of a physician. NPs can work in a variety of settings, including primary care, internal medicine, and emergency medicine. This course would be helpful for NPs in making decisions about when to prescribe antibiotics for common outpatient infections. The course covers the latest guidelines on antibiotic use and provides practical tips for communicating with patients about antibiotics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nurse Practitioner

Outpatient Pharmacist

An Outpatient Pharmacist is responsible for dispensing medications to patients who are not staying overnight in a hospital. This course would help build a foundation in determining whether an antibiotic is appropriate for an outpatient and how long therapy should be. This can help reduce antibiotic resistance and improve patient outcomes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Outpatient Pharmacist

Pharmacist

A Pharmacist is responsible for dispensing medications and providing information about medications to patients. This course can help Pharmacists gain a better understanding of when antibiotics are indicated and how to select the most appropriate antibiotic for a given patient. This knowledge can help Pharmacists improve patient care and reduce antibiotic resistance.

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Infectious Disease Physician

An Infectious Disease Physician is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. This course may be helpful for Infectious Disease Physicians in making decisions about when to prescribe antibiotics for common outpatient infections. The course covers the latest guidelines on antibiotic use.

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Medical Writer

A Medical Writer is a person who writes about medical topics for a variety of audiences. This course may be helpful for Medical Writers in gaining a better understanding of the importance of antibiotic resistance and promoting appropriate antibiotic use.

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Pharmaceutical Sales Representative

A Pharmaceutical Sales Representative is a person who sells pharmaceutical products to healthcare providers. This course may be helpful for Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives in understanding the importance of antibiotic resistance and promoting appropriate antibiotic use.

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Regulatory Affairs Manager

A Regulatory Affairs Manager is a person who is responsible for ensuring that a company's products comply with government regulations. This course may be helpful for Regulatory Affairs Managers in understanding the regulatory landscape for antibiotics.

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Hospitalist

A Hospitalist is a doctor who specializes in the care of hospitalized patients. This course may be helpful for Hospitalists in making decisions about when to prescribe antibiotics for common outpatient infections. The course covers the latest guidelines on antibiotic use.

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Health Educator

A Health Educator is a person who is trained to provide health information and education to individuals and groups. This course may be helpful for Health Educators in understanding the importance of antibiotic resistance and promoting appropriate antibiotic use.

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Public Health Nurse

A Public Health Nurse is a nurse who works to improve the health of a community. This course may be helpful for Public Health Nurses in understanding the importance of antibiotic resistance and promoting appropriate antibiotic use.

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Epidemiologist

An Epidemiologist is a scientist who studies the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events (including disease), and the application of this study to the control of diseases and other health problems.

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Microbiologist

A Microbiologist is a scientist who studies microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This course may be helpful for Microbiologists in understanding the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Microbiologist