Promoting Antibiotic Stewardship
Authors
Bates, Anna
Issue Date
2023-04-30
Keywords
Research Subject Categories::INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AREAS::Caring sciences::Theory of science regarding care and nursing , Antimicrobial Stewardship , Anti-Bacterial Agents , Soft Tissue Infections
Description/Abstract
Background: Antibiotic resistance develops from inappropriate and overuse of antibiotics. Resistant infections lead to higher mortality rates, increased healthcare costs, and increased adverse effects.
Purpose: The goal of this quality improvement project was to determine if the implementation of an existing Situation-Background-Assessment-Request (SBAR) tool developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) along with education provided to nursing staff and providers in a long-term care facility improved adherence to an antibiotic stewardship program.
Methods: A systematic approach to data collection was conducted regarding patients with suspected urinary tract, lower respiratory tract, or skin and soft tissue infections. The tool provided helped nursing staff collect information to discuss with providers regarding patients with suspected infections. The study was implemented over a three-month period. Retrospective chart reviews were conducted, and pharmacy medication dispensing reports were used to determine pre- and post- implementation data regarding antibiotic name, duration, indication, and culture results.
Results: The data collected for this project showed a decrease in antibiotics ordered by one (1) order. This does not show the implemented SBAR tool was successful or unsuccessful.
Recommendations and Conclusions: Future studies should be provided with a longer time frame and comparing data for the same patients to include inferential statistics in the data analysis.