Antibiotics and similar drugs, together called antimicrobial agents, have been used for the last 70 years to treat patients who have infectious diseases. Since the 1940s, these drugs have greatly reduced illness and death from infectious diseases. However, these drugs have been used so widely and for so long that the infectious organisms the antibiotics are designed to kill have adapted to them, making the drugs less effective.
Each year in the United States, at least 2 million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and at least 23,000 people die each year as a direct result of these infections.
In partnership with physician organization, consumer groups, and local public health organizations, the Nevada Office of Public Health Informatics and Epidemiology, and the Nevada Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, are educating health professionals and consumers about the appropriate use of antibiotics.
- Ginny's Story: Ginny's life was changed forever by a preventable hospital-acquired infection.
- Parents Remember Army Vet's Battle with Antibiotic Resistance
Nevada Antibiotic Stewardship Program
Nevada Antibiotic Stewardship Program's Mission:
To optimize antibiotic use, improve patient outcomes, and maximize resource utilization to decrease antibiotic resistance and adverse events.
Nevada Antibiotic Stewardship Program's Vision:
Through education, collaboration, coordination, and advocacy- the Nevada Antibiotic Stewardship Program (NVAS) will preserve and improve antimicrobial efficiency in the community we serve
Antimicrobial Stewardship Standard
This guideline discuses a broad range of possible ASP interventions. We have emphasized the need for each site to assess its clinical needs and available resources and individualize its ASP with that assessment in mind.
Despite the recognition that much more research is needed, this guideline identifies core interventions for all ASPs as well as other interventions that can be implemented based on facility-specific assessments of need and resources. Every healthcare facility is able to perform stewardship, and institution of an ASP is attainable and of great importance to public health.
Be Antibiotics Aware
Be Antibiotics Aware (formerly Get Smart
about Antibiotics) is a national effort to help fight antibiotic
resistance and improve antibiotic prescribing and use.
Antibiotics
save lives but any time antibiotics are used, they can cause side effects and
lead to antibiotic resistance. At least 80 million antibiotic prescriptions
each year are unnecessary, which makes improving antibiotic prescribing and use
a national priority.
Adult/Pediatric Antibiotic Prescribing Guidelines from New York State Department of Health
New pocket
guides from New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) go straight to the
essence of clinical treatment guidelines and include recommendations for both
adult and pediatric patients. The adult conditions include acute
rhinosinusitis, acute uncomplicated bronchitis, common cold/non-specific upper
respiratory tract infection (URI), pharyngitis, and acute uncomplicated
cystitis. Pediatric conditions include acute rhinosinusitis, acute otitis
media, pharyngitis, common cold/non-specific upper respiratory tract infection
(URI), bronchiolitis, and urinary tract infections (UTI).
The simple,
easy-to-use pocket guide will be available in the following versions:
- As
an electronic link that could be integrated into electronic health records
- Download
and print as a reference card
- Printed
out from the NYSDOH electronic link and posted where providers keep their
reference materials.
These
guidelines should expedite antibiotic prescribing for the busy healthcare
provider by including information to pinpoint when antibiotics may or may not
be indicated and to assist providers to select an appropriate antibiotic
according to published guidelines. Follow these links to see the guidelines:
https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/1174_8.5x11.pdf
https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/1174_11x17.pdf