Training modules, deeper communication efforts, an annual report and increased medical director attention are how nursing homes can significantly reduce antibiotic use, new study results reveal.
An organized plan led to antibiotic prescription rates falling by 18% after a year and 23% after two years. Estimated two-year implementation costs per nursing home, exclusive of medical provider time, ranged from $354 to $3,653.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill said that medical director involvement was an integral part of the success. A 10% increase in the proportion of residents with the medical director as primary physician was associated with a 4% reduction in prescribing.
Incidence of C. difficile and MRSA infections, hospitalizations and hospital readmissions did not change significantly. No adverse events from antibiotic nonprescription were reported.
A total of 27 North Carolina skilled nursing facilities were evaluated before the announcement of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services antibiotic stewardship mandate.
