May 20, 2022
As of May 22, 2022 the C. difficile test order will have required questions to ensure the patient is appropriate for testing. Only providers can use this order at this time, and the nurse-driven protocol for C. difficile testing will be retired. If your patient does not meet IDSA/SHEA criteria for C. difficile testing according to the documentation in the …
May 5, 2022
To support patients and visitors who may be considering COVID vaccination, Carolina Antimicrobial Stewardship Program created a flyer called Reasons to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine (Spanish & English available) to provide more information on the benefits of a COVID vaccine. Consider printing and posting the flyers in patient and visitor areas.
March 21, 2022
Super Steward Awards recognize colleagues’ meaningful contributions to support the appropriate and effective use of antimicrobials at UNC Medical Center.
February 2, 2022
via the Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society Background Starting in November 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for multiple novel virus-neutralizing monoclonal antibody therapies, including bamlanivimab monotherapy (now revoked), bamlanivimab and etesivimab, casirivimab and imdevimab (REGEN-COV), and sotrovimab, for treatment or postexposure prophylaxis of Coronavirus disease …
January 25, 2022
Hospital admissions fell substantially, probably reflecting a real decrease in non-COVID infections, Zach Willis, CASP pediatric director, writes in new British Medical Journal editorial
January 3, 2022
Globally, respiratory illness is one of the most common reasons that children seek care. It is often treated inappropriately with antibiotics, which can drive the development of antibiotic resistance. In resource-rich settings, testing for specific pathogens or measurement of clinical biomarkers, such as procalcitonin and C-reactive protein, is often employed to help determine which children …
December 20, 2021
CASP’s Bill Wilson, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Infectious Diseases & Antimicrobial Stewardship in the UNC Children’s Hospital, was among the authors on a new article published today in Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice. Recent trials have shown early de-escalation of empiric antimicrobial therapy (EAT) in febrile neutropenia has led to less adverse effects with no …
November 22, 2021
During U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week and throughout the year, CDC promotes Be Antibiotics Aware, an educational effort to raise awareness about the importance of safe antibiotic prescribing and use. The Be Antibiotics Aware initiative provides resources to help improve antibiotic prescribing among healthcare professionals and use among consumers. CDC’s Be Antibiotics Aware educational effort encourages …
November 17, 2021
More than half of all patients receive at least one antimicrobial agent during their hospital stay. At the Medical Center as with other facilities, patients sometimes receive treatment that is longer than needed for common infections. Reducing unnecessary antimicrobial exposure is essential to preserving the efficacy of these drugs for the future. Carolina Antimicrobial Stewardship …
October 26, 2021
Melissa Miller, PhD, is an inaugural CASP member and the director of the clinical microbiology laboratory at the UNC Medical Center.
October 12, 2021
A quality improvement effort led by CASP’s Bill Wilson, PharmD, was recognized by UNC Medical Center Improvement Council’s Quality and Safety Awards with an honorable mention for their work to prevent surgical site infections in the Children’s Hospital Operating Room. “In the past, many patients did not have orders for perioperative antibiotics placed until they …
October 7, 2021
Since 2018, UNC Medical Center Infection Prevention has bestowed Friends of Epidemiology awards to honor exceptional UNC Health Care employees in other departments. Awardees are outstanding in their work for their department and integral to the success of Infection Prevention. Each year, Carolina Antimicrobial Stewardship Program team members have been among those recognized. At the …