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    Infectious Disease Prevention Section
    Mail Code: 1927
    PO BOX 149347 - Austin, TX 78714-9347
    1100 West 49th Street, Suite G401
    Austin, TX 78714

    Phone: (512) 776-7676
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Antibiotic Stewardship

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Antibiotic/Antimicrobial Stewardship (AS)

Antimicrobial stewardship is a coordinated program that promotes the appropriate use of antimicrobials (including antibiotics), improves patient outcomes, reduces microbial resistance, and decreases the spread of infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms.

Overview:

The use of antibiotics is the single most important factor leading to antibiotic resistance around the world. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates, more than two million people are infected with antibiotic-resistant organisms and approximately 23,000 of these infections result in death annually.[1]

In U.S acute care hospitals, it is estimated that 20-50% of all antibiotics prescribed are either unnecessary or inappropriate. [2]  Through the promotion of evidence-based antibiotic stewardship programs we can improve individual patient outcomes, reduce overall burden of antibiotic resistance, and decrease healthcare costs. [3]

Advisory Committees

Application submission period for the Antimicrobial Stewardship Regional Advisory Committees has ended. DSHS is in the process of establishing the committees. Check back here for future updates.

Upcoming Workshop

DSHS is hosting a virtual 3-day Antibiotic Stewardship Policy Writing Workshop for Nursing Homes.

Since the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance have gone unchecked. Antibiotic stewardship programs (ASP) are well suited for integrating tracking and monitoring capacities implemented during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

We invite you to attend the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Antibiotic Stewardship Policy Writing Workshop for Nursing Homes.  This is a virtual workshop that will take place over three days. On completion of the workshop, participants will have a finished AS Policy product to implement in their nursing home.

Event Dates and Times:
[Click on each link to register; register for each day separately]

Day-1: June 28, 2022 (1:00-2:30 PM)

  • Introduction to antibiotic resistance, antibiotic use, antibiotic stewardship in nursing homes
  • Antibiotic stewardship policy and the core elements of an antibiotic stewardship program in nursing homes

Day-2: June 29, 2022 (1:00 - 2:30 PM)

  • Writing an antibiotic stewardship policy: background, policy, & procedure

Day-3: June 30, 2022 (1:00 - 2:00 PM)

  • Tools & materials for antibiotic stewardship implementation and making a case for antibiotic stewardship policy to leadership

Continuing Education Credit:

Upon completion of this event, participants should be able to:

  • Name two factors that lead to antibiotic resistance in Nursing Homes.
  • Describe three preventative measures that can be implemented to prevent and limit the spread of antibiotic resistance in Nursing Homes.
  • Name and describe the seven core elements of and ASP.
  • Write an AS policy tailored to their specific facility’s needs.
  • Name two measures for monitoring antibiotic use.
  • Name two measures for monitoring antibiotic stewardship actions.
  • Two measures for monitoring antibiotic use outcomes.
  • Describe at least two aspects of antibiotic stewardship programs that should be emphasized to ensure leadership engagement in and commitment to improving antibiotic use.

Continuing education credit/contact hours for this event are provided by The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service and include the following:

Continuing Medical Education:

The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service is accredited by the Texas Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service designates this live activity for a maximum of 4.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Continuing Nursing Education: 
The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service has awarded 4.00 contact hour(s) of Continuing Nursing Education.

Certified in Public Health 
On 10/18/2017 the Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service was awarded multi-event provider status (ID #1360) by the National Board of Public Health Examiners to award CPH continuing education credits.  This activity has been awarded 4.00 credits.

Licensed Nursing Facility Administrators
The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service is approved to provide Licensed Nursing Facility Administrator (LNFA) continuing education credit under Texas Administrative Code, TAC rule (26 TAC 555.35). The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service has awarded 4.00 contact hour(s) of Continuing Education.

Certificate of Attendance:
The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service has designated 4.00 hour(s) for attendance.

Texas Trends:

In October of 2017, Texas DSHS on-boarded the Texas Antibiotic Stewardship Expert, as part of the Healthcare Safety Group. The antibiotic stewardship expert will aid in combating antibiotic resistance by promoting and participating in antibiotic stewardship educational activities and distribution of materials focused on developing and enhancing antibiotic stewardship programs in all healthcare settings and communities across Texas.

The Commissioner’s Commitment Letter for Antimicrobial Stewardship

  1. CDC. Antibiotic resistance threats in the United States  http://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/threat-report-2013/. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2013.
  2. CDC. Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2014. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/healthcare/implementation/core-elements.html.
  3. Dellit TH, Owens RC, McGowan JE, Jr., et al. Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America guidelines for developing an institutional program to enhance antimicrobial stewardship. Clinical infectious diseases: an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Jan 15 2007;44(2):159-177.

Last updated June 16, 2022