Developing a Culture of Antibiotic Stewardship in Post-Acute Care Setting

Antibiotics are among the most frequently prescribed medications in nursing homes, with up to 70% of residents receiving 1 or more courses of systemic antibiotics in a year. Forty to 75% of antibiotics prescribed in nursing homes may be unnecessary or inappropriate. Harm from antibiotic overuse is significant for the frail and older adults receiving care in nursing homes. As of November 2016, at the Coler Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Center (a 815-bed post-acute/long-term care facility affiliated with NYC Health and Hospitals, the largest public health care system in the United States), less than half of the residents treated with antibiotics had a documented infection.
Source: Journal of the American Medical Directors Association - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: Quality Improvement Source Type: research