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Antimicrobial Stewardship Initiatives (IASAA)
Antimicrobial stewardship programs play a critical role in combating antimicrobial resistance, improving patient outcomes, and optimizing the use of antimicrobial agents in the hospital setting. In addition to their clinical importance, antimicrobial stewardship initiatives are required by both The Joint Commission (TJC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As antimicrobial resistance and treatment complexities continue to evolve, stewardship programs must utilize a variety of evidence-based strategies to promote appropriate antimicrobial use. This program will highlight several key antimicrobial stewardship initiatives, including the evaluation and management of antibiotic allergies, the use of MRSA screening cultures beyond pneumonia, differentiation of bacterial colonization from active infection, and opportunities for de-escalation of broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy using microbiologic culture data and rapid diagnostic technologies. Additionally, the program will review current evidence and treatment approaches for infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Through the application of these stewardship principles, participants will be better equipped to optimize antimicrobial therapy and improve patient care outcomes.
This program is sponsored through a grant from the Alabama Department of Public Health, Bureau of Communicable Disease Infectious Diseases and Outbreaks through a Cooperative Agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, grant number 6 NU50CK000545-03-02, Strengthening HAI/AR (SHARP) CFDA 93.323.
Target Audience
This application-based course is intended for Pharmacists (ACPE), Nurse Practitioners (ABN), and Nurses (ABN).
Learning Objectives
- Evaluate the utility of MRSA screening cultures from various anatomical sites in optimizing empiric and targeted antimicrobial therapy.
- Differentiate bacterial colonization from true infection to support appropriate antimicrobial prescribing decisions.
- Assess patients receiving broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy and justify de-escalation strategies based on microbiologic and clinical data.
- Formulate patient-specific, evidence-based treatment regimens for infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.
- Analyze cross-reactivity risks among beta-lactam agents to guide antimicrobial selection.
A copy of the presentation slides are located within the course content. Once you have registered for the course, please navigate to the 'Take Course' tab and click the navy blue 'Take Course' button. Navigate to the 'Course Materials' section of the course using the left-hand menu and download a PDF version of the program presentation. Course Materials will be added to the course the week of the live event.
Participants will be provided the webinar link once enrolled in the course by accessing the course content under 'Take Course' - Course Instructions and Course Material. Please use this link to join the live webinar at the scheduled time. All registered participants will also receive an email the day before the program with program information, including the webinar link.
Spencer H. Durham, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCIDP, is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and also serves as the Director of Professional Affairs with the Harrison College of Pharmacy. Originally from Arab, Alabama, he completed his pre-pharmacy coursework at Auburn University and graduated with his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Harrison College of Pharmacy in 2007. He went on to complete an ASHP-accredited post-graduate residency at Children's Health System in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2008. After completing his residency, he joined the staff at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida, as a clinical pharmacist specialist, a role he held for five years.
In 2013, Dr. Durham joined the faculty of the Harrison College of Pharmacy, where he teaches a range of courses across the curriculum.
Additionally, Dr. Durham serves as the Director of Professional Affairs under the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and Outreach. As part of this position, he works proactively with HCOP alumni and other health care professionals from throughout the state and region to foster the development of innovative practice models and to expand and enhance opportunities for continuous professional development.
Dr. Durham also oversees the Office of Professional Affairs, which is responsible for the many continuing education programs offered each year by HCOP.
Dr. Durham has published more than 20 peer-reviewed articles in respected journals and several book chapters. He is an active speaker at national, state, and local conferences each year, where he educates healthcare professionals on infectious diseases and antimicrobial stewardship. Additionally, Dr. Durham is active in several state and national organizations, including the Alabama Pharmacy Association (APA), the Alabama Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (AlSHP), the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), and the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP).
Practice Site
Dr. Durham maintains a practice site at the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System where he specializes in the area of infectious diseases. He serves as a clinician in the inpatient acute care units, the long-term care facility, and the HIV and general infectious diseases outpatient clinics. At his practice site, Dr. Durham serves as a preceptor for both pharmacy students and residents. He also holds a dual board certification as a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS) and a Board Certified Infectious Diseases Pharmacist (BCIDP).
Auburn University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education; credits are recognized nationwide. The Universal Activity Number for this application-based program is 001-0000-26-018-L01-P and is intended for pharmacists.
ABN - Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy is a board-approved provider of continuing nursing education in Alabama by the Alabama Board of Nursing. Provider Number: ABNP1515.
Available Credit
- 1.20 ABNAuburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy is a board-approved provider of continuing nursing education in Alabama by the Alabama Board of Nursing. Provider Number: ABNP1515
- 1.00 ACPE PharmacyAuburn University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education; credits are recognized nationwide.