Optimizing Antimicrobial Use

Antimicrobial resistance is a substantial public health threat in the United States. Inappropriate use of antimicrobials by physicians is part of the reason for the current resistance problem. Stewardship programs are intended to prevent or slow the emergence of resistance among microorganisms. It is hoped that this will lead to reductions of patient length of stay, adverse drug reactions, morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs.

The Carolina Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (CASP) and Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy (OPAT) Program at University of North Carolina Hospitals are charged with optimizing the use of antimicrobial agents at the University of North Carolina Hospitals, including when patients leave the hospital and transition to outpatient care.

Featured News

By Sarah Krueger, WRAL Durham reporter Chapel Hill, N.C. — From Florida to California, some hospitals report running out of remdesivir, the drug that has shown promise in fighting COVID-19 in the most seriously ill patients. But officials at several area hospitals said Thursday that they have enough of the drug to meet demand.

by Judith Retana via CBS17.com Health professionals across the country are experiencing shortages of supplies needed for COVID-19 tests, and it’s leading to a slow down of test results, according to Dr. Melissa Miller. She is the director of the Clinical Microbiology and Molecular Microbiology Laboratories at UNC Health. In a media briefing Wednesday, Miller …

Carolina Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (CASP) is carrying out intensive stewardship in the realm of COVID-19. The work is a natural extension of its mission to improve the use of antimicrobials (which include antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics). In addition to CASP’s daily stewardship to ensure patients receive antimicrobials only when needed, with the right drug, right …

The advent of COVID-19 catalyzed a still-evolving and radical shift in healthcare delivery, especially in hospitals that were already on the front lines of caring for the sickest patients. In March, as University of North Carolina Hospitals’ non-critical employees were sent to work from home, Carolina Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (CASP) Medical Director Nikolaos Mavrogiorgos knew …

Carolina Antimicrobial Stewardship Program

Optimize patient outcomes by promoting the appropriate use of antimicrobials, including the choice of drug, dosing regimen, monitoring, and duration
Reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections due to multi-drug resistant organisms
Assist the Adult and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Divisions and Department of Pharmacy in providing a coordinated approach to antimicrobial formulary and restriction management
Assist clinicians in antimicrobial decisions by integrating clinical pathways and decision support systems
Assist the Adult and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Divisions and Department of Pharmacy in promoting evidence-based medicine as it relates to prescribing, preparing, administering, and monitoring antimicrobials
Perform medication use evaluations related to antimicrobial usage to identify areas for future intervention

Provide education to medical, nursing, and pharmacy staff related to antibiotic stewardship
Assist in the management of antimicrobial and vaccine shortages
Assure compliance with policy standards related to antibiotic stewardship
Ensure accurate transitions of care for patients leaving UNC Medical Center on parenteral antibiotics
Provide monitoring and evaluation of clinical issues for patients enrolled in the program.

Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy (OPAT) Program

Ensure accurate transitions of care for patients leaving UNC Hospitals on parenteral antibiotics
Provide monitoring and evaluation of clinical issues for patients enrolled in the program

Optimizing Antimicrobial Use

Featured News

Despite shortages elsewhere, area hospitals say they have plenty of remdesivir

Supply shortages slow down COVID-19 testing in North Carolina

Carolina Antimicrobial Stewardship Program leads remdesivir roll-out across UNC Health hospitals

UNC Hospitals incorporate tele-antimicrobial stewardship approaches in the COVID era

CASP and OPAT were developed in July 2016 as a joint program of the Department of Pharmacy and the Divisions of Adult and Pediatric Infectious Diseases. The primary goals and objectives of the programs are to:

Carolina Antimicrobial Stewardship Program

Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy (OPAT) Program

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