A new study in The Journal of the American Medical Association: Internal Medicine shows almost 70 percent of antibiotic prescriptions for sinus infections are for 10 days, which is longer than the clinical practice guidelines recommend.
In addition, more than 20 percent of antibiotic prescriptions for sinus infections were for 5 days of azithromycin, even though guidelines recommend against prescribing azithromycin because of high rates of existing resistance to this drug and others in its class.
Antibiotics save lives but any time antibiotics are used, they can cause side effects and lead to antibiotic resistance. According to the CDC, at least 80 million antibiotic prescriptions each year are unnecessary, which makes improving antibiotic prescribing and use a national priority.
New CDC Antibiotic Stewardship Courses Available
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently launched the first module of its online antibiotic stewardship course. To date, there have been more than 3,000 registered users!
We encourag
e you to take the course, share your feedback and share this opportunity with your partners and colleagues! Course objectives include optimizing antibiotic prescribing and use to protect patients and combat the threat of antibiotic resistance; informing healthcare professionals about proper antibiotic use and encouraging
8 hours of free Continuing Education (CE) offered.
Great Plains Quality Innovation Network has professionals working in our region to assist practitioners, pharmacists and health systems in the implementation of coordinated interventions designed to improve and measure the appropriate use of antibiotics by promoting the selection of the optimal drug regimen, dose, duration of therapy and route of administration. Visit our website to learn more.