Infection Control

Our Physicians have a key role in educating clinicians and patients. Through engagement with physicians, nurses, and patients, they can communicate the need for antimicrobial stewardship and the importance of appropriate use of antibiotics. With training sessions our practice can help design ways to reduce urinary tract infections which could include components that discuss the need to reevaluate antibiotic therapy after 48 hours in light of lab reports and other information. Our Physicians can also support pharmacy-led ASP interventions such as switching from IV to oral medication administration during unit visits, education programs, and one-on-one training. In addition, their access to disparate data feeds enables them to assist pharmacy operations in the identification of bug-drug mismatches, and excessive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics that may contribute to development of increasingly resistant organisms. As our Physicians typically have responsibility for analyzing and reporting surveillance information, they are well positioned to support the hospital’s antimicrobial stewardship program with real-time data on HAIs and MDROs and adverse trends. They often have experience translating data into actionable knowledge for clinicians and administration, which can help maintain support for the ASP and significantly contribute to patient safety initiatives targeted at infection reduction.