{"id":232208,"date":"2025-06-26T07:01:36","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T11:01:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=232208"},"modified":"2025-06-26T11:41:26","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T15:41:26","slug":"uconn-health-recognized-for-responsible-antibiotic-use","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2025\/06\/uconn-health-recognized-for-responsible-antibiotic-use\/","title":{"rendered":"UConn Health Recognized for Responsible Antibiotic Use"},"content":{"rendered":"

A commitment to responsible use of antibiotics earns UConn Health\u2019s John Dempsey Hospital the designation of \u201cAntimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence\u201d from the Infectious Diseases Society of America.<\/p>\n

\"Certificate
Certificate from the Infectious Diseases Society of America<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With this designation, the IDSA recognizes institutions that have established stewardship programs, led by infectious diseases physicians and pharmacists, to advance science in antimicrobial resistance, and that have surpassed high standards aligned with evidence-based national guidelines.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvolving antimicrobial resistance patterns and the introduction of new therapeutics have made antibiotic prescribing more challenging than ever,\u201d says Kevin Chamberlin<\/a>, UConn Health\u2019s chief pharmacy officer. \u201cThis Center of Excellence designation is a testament to the sound antimicrobial stewardship we practice that protects our limited options for our most vulnerable patients.\u201d<\/p>\n

John Dempsey Hospital is one of four hospitals in Connecticut designated as an Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence, and among fewer than 200 hospitals in the world that have earned the distinction since the ISDA started this program in 2017.<\/p>\n

Core criteria include implementation of stewardship protocols by integrating best practices to slow the emergency of resistance, optimize the treatment of infections, reduce adverse events associated with antibiotic use, and address other challenging areas of antimicrobial stewardship.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis shows that we are using multidisciplinary collaboration to ensure that we\u2019re using antibiotics in the most quality way and optimizing those antibiotics across care, both on the inpatient and outpatient side,\u201d says Gillian Kuszewski<\/a> \u201903 (PHARM), \u201905 Pharm.D., university director of UConn Health\u2019s pharmacy residency programs.<\/p>\n

Kuszewski co-leads UConn Health\u2019s antibiotic stewardship program with Dr. David Banach<\/a> \u201906 MD, MPH, infectious diseases physician and UConn Health\u2019s hospital epidemiologist, and Jeffrey Aeschlimann<\/a> \u201993 (PHARM), a UConn School of Pharmacy faculty member and clinician in UConn Health\u2019s pharmacy practice<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Portrait
From left: Dr. David Banach, Gillian Kuszewski, and Jeffrey Aeschlimann lead UConn Health\u2019s antibiotic stewardship program. (Photo by Chris DeFrancesco, UConn Health)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cAntibiotic stewardship is a global health priority,\u201d Banach says. \u201cThe goal of using the right antibiotic for the right patient at the right time for the right duration is really becoming recognized as a key public health measure, both for reducing resistance and also reducing antibiotic-associated side effects and adverse events like C. diff<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

C. diff<\/em>, or Clostridioides difficile<\/em> infection, is one of the most common health care-associated infections. It is highly contagious and difficult to treat.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the important things the stewardship program does is minimize unnecessary use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, which has been shown to also decrease C. diff<\/em> rates in hospitals and health care settings,\u201d Aeschlimann says.<\/p>\n

\u201cAntimicrobial stewardship has become critically important, reducing harm from the development of antibiotic-resistant organisms from inappropriate use of antibiotics and the incidence of infections such as C. diff<\/em>, as well as promoting appropriate utilization of costly medications,\u201d says Dr. Scott Allen<\/a>, UConn Health\u2019s chief medical officer. \u201cThus, this is not only important for the hospital, but also for society as a whole. The Center of Excellence designation speaks to UConn Health\u2019s commitment to patient safety and value-based care.\u201d<\/p>\n

While this is the first time UConn Health has applied for this ISDA designation, antimicrobial stewardship has been a priority going back more than a decade, predating regulatory requirements. Aeschlimann and Dr. Kevin Dieckhaus<\/a>, who today is chief of UConn Health\u2019s Division of Infectious Diseases, started the antibiotic stewardship committee in 2013. Since then, it has grown to include representation from throughout the institution, including microbiology lab professionals, nurses, pharmacists, physicians, informatics specialists, infection preventionists, and students, residents and fellows.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve always been doing these things along the way, and we felt now was the right time to sit down and formally submit an application,\u201d Kuszewski says. \u201cWe\u2019ve always done extremely well with our program when regulatory bodies like the Joint Commission come to visit. From a regulatory perspective, we\u2019ve consistently received really good feedback from them on our antimicrobial stewardship activities.\u201d<\/p>\n

She says the committee has established protocols, policies, and workflows to guide and support front-line providers in making the best choices.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve supported, for example, processes to make sure that even after the patient leaves the emergency department, they\u2019re on the right antibiotic based on follow-up information that we get from cultures,\u201d Kuszewski says.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have the collaborations between those who prescribe antibiotics and those who have expertise to offer and help support optimal prescribing,\u201d Banach says.<\/p>\n

And the committee\u2019s guidance has made its way into the electronic health record system to provide an additional resource for prescribers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe try to develop either order sets or clinical pathways or popups, whatever we think might work best, to guide clinicians to pick the right antibiotic choice,\u201d Aeschlimann says.<\/p>\n

Another strategy is to prioritize documentation of allergies to help inform prescribing decisions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey can choose an antibiotic with the least risk of a negative outcome,\u201d Kuszewski says. \u201cPenicillin allergy documentation often leads to unnecessary use of certain antibiotics that come with greater risks. Perhaps a penicillin might cause some temporary stomach upset for a patient and is not really a true allergy. Clarifying this documentation in a patient\u2019s medical record can help providers determine which antibiotic carries the least risk in treating an infection.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kuszewski notes that UConn Health leadership has been supportive of the antimicrobial stewardship efforts since the beginning.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot only are we following standards, but we\u2019re also seeing better outcomes,\u201d she says. \u201cWe also have results that show that we\u2019re using less broad-spectrum antibiotics than what we\u2019re expected to use, and our C. diff<\/em> rates are down. The outcomes are actually tangible. It\u2019s not just what we say we\u2019re doing, but we\u2019re seeing good results.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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