News | Carolina Antimicrobial Stewardship Program

headshots of award winners with text CASP super stewards 2022

The Carolina Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (CASP) honored five collaborators with Super Steward Awards. Kevin Alby, PhD, Mildred Kwan, MD, PhD, Jesica Mangum, PharmD, Melissa Miller, PhD, and Michael Phillips, MD were among the award recipients. CASP created the awards in 2022 to recognize colleagues’ efforts to champion stewardship in their settings. “The extent of CASP’s …

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 …

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.

Super Steward Awards recognize colleagues’ meaningful contributions to support the appropriate and effective use of antimicrobials at UNC Medical Center.

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 …

visual abstract of BMJ study showing reduction in common and severe childhood infections during pandemic period to date

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

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Melissa Miller, PhD, is an inaugural CASP member and the director of the clinical microbiology laboratory at the UNC Medical Center.

test ordering improved from 45% to 75% between July 2020 and Sept 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 …

Category: News

Alby, Kwan, Mangun, Miller, and Phillips Recognized for Exemplary Antimicrobial Stewardship Contributions

May 2022 Epic Upgrade: C. difficile Order Revision

“Reasons to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine” Flyer Available to Post in Patient Areas

Nominate a Super Antimicrobial Steward

Updated Guidance on Monoclonal Antibody Therapy for Treatment of COVID-19 in Adolescents

Pandemic Leads to Dramatic Reductions in Hospital Admissions for Non-COVID Infections

Rapid Diagnostic Tests to Improve Antibiotic Stewardship for Pediatric Acute Respiratory Illnesses in Uganda

Early De-escalation of Empiric Antimicrobial Therapy in Acute Leukemia Patients with Febrile Neutropenia

Be Antibiotics Aware: Protecting Patients

Shortest Effective Durations of Antimicrobial Therapy focus of CASP’s observance of World Antimicrobials Awareness Week

Miller Receives Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service

Progress in Fight Against Surgical Site Infections at UNC Children’s Hospital