7 Tools to Strengthen Antibiotic Stewardship

Antibiotic stewardship is a key strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance—a phenomenon that occurs when bacteria and viruses change over time and no longer respond to medicines like antibiotics. This makes infections hard to treat, and it increase the risk of disease, severe illness and even death.  

Every year, U.S. Antibiotics Awareness Week takes place Nov. 18-24 to raise awareness and promote best practices around antibiotic use. This is also a key initiative at VHAN, as antibiotic prescribing is included in some of our value-based contracts, including Aetna commercial.  

To help practices educate patients about antibiotics and assist with appropriate prescribing, in partnership with the VUMC Outpatient Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, VHAN has created several tools that you can find on the VHAN Hub Resource Library: 

• Virus or Bacteria? Posters in two sizes and in English, Arabic and Spanish 

• Pocket Cards, in adult and pediatric versions, that contain clinical algorithms to help determine when to prescribe antibiotics and when to suggest alternates for upper respiratory infections (URIs) 

• Badge Buddies, smaller versions of the pocket cards that give clinicians a quick glance at important prescriber guidance for URIs 

• About Your Visit Patient Education to help patients prepare for a visit where they may be requesting antibiotics 

• Think You Need a Strep Test? Flyer to provide details on when a strep test and antibiotics are necessary 

• Speak Up! URI Patient Video to address the causes of common colds and the best treatment options 

• A miniVHAN podcast episode, “Rethinking Antibiotics for Kids: Tips for Parents and Providers,” discusses the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. Elizabeth Randolph, MD, from Green Hills Pediatric Associates, shares the strategies her practice has used to manage patient and family expectations around antibiotics. 

To access these member tools and more, visit VHANHub.com/antibiotics, or check out the VHAN Hub Resource Library antibiotics collection here.