Optimizing Outpatient Antibiotic Use: A Guide to ACP Guidelines

What you'll learn

Course overview

In 2021, primary care physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners accounted for over 100 million outpatient antibiotic prescriptions. Alarmingly, an estimated 28% of these prescriptions were inappropriate, translating to around 30 million dispensed by pharmacists. Such figures underscore the crucial need for effective antibiotic management in the healthcare setting. This course delves into the judicious use of outpatient antibiotics, emphasizing evidence-based medicine and clinical guidelines, particularly for respiratory, urinary, and skin/soft tissue infections. By examining each organ system in detail, the course contrasts the American College of Physicians' guidelines with the latest recommendations from the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Highlighting the most appropriate antibiotics for specific infections ensures both prescribers and pharmacy personnel are well-equipped to make informed decisions, fostering a more robust antibiotic stewardship across healthcare.