Felicia Skelton1,2, Katie Suda3,4, Charlesnika Evans3,5, Barbara Trautner1,6. 1. a Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuESt) , Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center , Houston , Texas. 2. b Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , Texas. 3. c Center for Innovation for Complex Chronic Care (CINCCH) , Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital , Hines , Illinois. 4. d University of Illinois at Chicago , Chicago , Illinois. 5. e Northwestern University , Department of Preventive Medicine and Center for Health Care Studies, Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine , Chicago , Illinois. 6. f Department of Medicine , Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , Texas.
Abstract
CONTEXT: Antibiotic stewardship, defined as a multidisciplinary program to reduce the misuse of antibiotics, and in turn, antibiotic resistance, is a high priority. Persons with spinal cord injury/disorder (SCI/D) are vulnerable to receiving multiple courses of antibiotics over their lifetime given frequent healthcare exposure, and have high rates of bacterial infection with multi-drug resistant organisms. Additional challenges to evaluating appropriate use of antibiotics in this population include bacterial colonization in the urine and the differences in the presenting signs and symptoms of infection. Therefore, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities with SCI/D centers need effective antibiotic stewardship programs. RESULTS: We analyzed the results of a 2012 VHA-wide survey evaluating available antibiotic stewardship resources, and compared the resources present at facilities with SCI/D (n=23) versus non-SCI/D facilities (n=107). VHA facilities with SCI/D centers are more likely to have components of an antibiotic stewardship program that have led to reduced antibiotic use in previous studies. They are also more likely to have personnel with infectious diseases training. CONCLUSION: VHA facilities with SCI/D centers have the resources needed for antibiotic stewardship. The next step will be to determine how to implement effective antibiotic stewardship tailored for this patient care setting.
CONTEXT: Antibiotic stewardship, defined as a multidisciplinary program to reduce the misuse of antibiotics, and in turn, antibiotic resistance, is a high priority. Persons with spinal cord injury/disorder (SCI/D) are vulnerable to receiving multiple courses of antibiotics over their lifetime given frequent healthcare exposure, and have high rates of bacterial infection with multi-drug resistant organisms. Additional challenges to evaluating appropriate use of antibiotics in this population include bacterial colonization in the urine and the differences in the presenting signs and symptoms of infection. Therefore, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities with SCI/D centers need effective antibiotic stewardship programs. RESULTS: We analyzed the results of a 2012 VHA-wide survey evaluating available antibiotic stewardship resources, and compared the resources present at facilities with SCI/D (n=23) versus non-SCI/D facilities (n=107). VHA facilities with SCI/D centers are more likely to have components of an antibiotic stewardship program that have led to reduced antibiotic use in previous studies. They are also more likely to have personnel with infectious diseases training. CONCLUSION: VHA facilities with SCI/D centers have the resources needed for antibiotic stewardship. The next step will be to determine how to implement effective antibiotic stewardship tailored for this patient care setting.
Authors: Felicia Skelton; Sarah May; Larissa Grigoryan; Ivy Poon; Sally Ann Holmes; Lindsey Martin; Barbara W Trautner Journal: PM R Date: 2020-05-13 Impact factor: 2.298
Authors: Casey Hines-Munson; Sarah May; Ivy Poon; S Ann Holmes; Lindsey Martin; Barbara W Trautner; Felicia Skelton Journal: PM R Date: 2021-07-22 Impact factor: 2.298