5 ways in which bedside nurses can improve antibiotic stewardship

Ensuring bedside nurses are integrated into antibiotic stewardship activities can help those activities be successful, according to a study published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.

Researchers found several areas where nurses' expertise can be used to improve antibiotic stewardship programs, including:

• Conducting appropriate testing for Clostridioides difficile infection
• Utilizing appropriate urine culturing practices
• Ensuring optimal antibiotic administration and transitions
• Detailing penicillin allergy histories
• Ensuring appropriate antibiotic timeouts

Hospital leaders can integrate nurses into antibiotic stewardship in several ways, including on-the-job learning about antibiotics, potential drug interactions and adverse drug events, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, which funded the study.

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