What We Do
The Carolina Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (CASP) and the Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy Program (OPAT) began in 2016 as joint programs of the UNC Medical Center Department of Pharmacy and the Divisions of Adult and Pediatric Infectious Diseases.
CASP supports the appropriate and effective use of antimicrobials
A multidisciplinary team provides guidance and tools to support clinical decision-making. CASP provides stewardship consults to assist UNC Medical Center colleagues with:
- Empiric use of antimicrobials
- Optimal duration of therapy
- Diagnostic testing for infections
- Approval of restricted antimicrobials
- Alternative antibiotics in patients with allergies
- De-escalation of antibiotics
Carolina Antimicrobial Stewardship Program’s Quality Improvement Strategies
Each year, CASP implements strategies to optimize antimicrobial therapies for patients who need them. Core strategies are carried out every year as foundational to UNC Hospitals’ antimicrobial stewardship program; special focus strategies respond to opportunities for quality improvement based on hospital data and trends. Strategies are led by CASP’s core team of antimicrobial stewardship physicians and pharmacists.
Conduct data analysis and review to identify opportunities for intervention
Collaborate with the Stop Healthcare-associated Infections in Every Patient (SHINE) Initiative to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)
Carry out antimicrobial stewardship education and training for the next generation of stewards
OPAT Objectives
- 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
