Online Free Course: Antimicrobial Stewardship – A competency-based approach

Modules included in the online free course are:

Module A: Introduction
By the end of this module, participants should be able to: describe what the course is about and introduce core competencies.

Module B: The Principles of Antimicrobial Prescribing
By the end of this module, participants should be able to: define the principles of appropriate empiric antimicrobial prescribing; consider patient and epidemiologic factors when prescribing antimicrobials; and utilize clinical and laboratory data to reassess the appropriateness of antimicrobial therapy throughout the course of the patient’s illness.

Module C: Pharmacology of Antimicrobials for Clinicians – Select Topics
By the end of this module, participants should be able to: understand basic concepts of pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of antimicrobials; describe oral bioavailability of antimicrobials; and illustrate the concept of time-dependent antimicrobials and describe optimizing the use of beta-lactam antimicrobials using prolonged infusion.

Module D: Antimicrobial resistance for clinicians
By the end of this module, participants should be able to: highlight mechanisms by which microorganisms develop antimicrobial resistance; illustrate the emergence and global spread of drug resistant organisms; and demonstrate the use of clinical guidelines in choosing appropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy.

Module E: Antibiotic allergies
By the end of this module, participants should be able to: recognize that the majority of reported penicillin allergies are not confirmed upon testing and expose patients to undue harm; understand when diagnostic testing, including skin testing, is indicated to confirm an antimicrobial allergy; and employ strategies to determine if cephalosporins can be used in patients with reported penicillin allergies.

Module F: Urinary tract infections
By the end of this module, participants should be able to: understand the prevalence and implications of contaminated urine cultures and of asymptomatic bacteriuria; illustrate the complexity of using urinalysis and urine culture to diagnose urinary tract infections; and demonstrate the use of local antibiogram and guidelines in managing urinary tract infections.

Module G: Community-acquired respiratory tract infections
By the end of this module, participants should be able to: effectively use initial assessment to determine appropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy highlighting the importance of establishing the correct diagnosis; utilize patient specific clinical data to reassess the appropriateness of antimicrobial therapy; and appreciate role of non-antimicrobial therapies in prevention of bacterial disease and role of clinician in educating patients about these options (vaccination).

Module H: Skin and soft tissue infections
By the end of this module, participants should be able to: contrast the epidemiology and management strategies for purulent versus non-purulent skin and soft tissue infections to highlight stewardship opportunities; identify clinical presentations for which specimens should be sent for culture; and demonstrate opportunities to optimize the use of antimicrobials for common skin and soft tissue infections.

Module I: Bloodstream infections
By the end of this module, participants should be able to: describe appropriate blood culture specimen collection techniques to reduce opportunities for contamination, which can lead to inappropriate antimicrobial use; review framework for appropriate antimicrobial prescribing for patients with suspected blood stream infections (BSI); and demonstrate opportunities for collaboration with microbiology services and clinical diagnostics leading to more appropriate antimicrobial use.

Module J: Antimicrobial Surgical Prophylaxis
By the end of this module, participants should be able to: articulate the principles of antimicrobial use in surgical prophylaxis; describe how key institution-specific protocols can improve the use of antimicrobials for surgical prophylaxis; and appreciate the importance of pre-operative dosing and limit the duration of post-operative dosing of antimicrobials.

Module K: Acute pharyngitis in adolescents and adults
By the end of this module, participants should be able to: understand the epidemiology of infections that cause acute pharyngitis; use clinical prediction scores and microbiologic tests to identify those that may benefit from antimicrobial therapy; and recognize communication tools that can be used to educate patients about their diagnoses and the appropriate use of antimicrobials.

Module L: Acute Infectious Diarrhea
By the end of this module, participants should be able to: recognize the limited number of acute diarrheal clinical scenarios that require antimicrobial therapy; use microbiologic susceptibility data to determine the appropriate empiric therapy for Travelers’ diarrhea and when clinician-prescribed, self-treatment is indicated; and understand role of clinicians in reducing the use of antimicrobials purchased without a prescription for acute diarrhea in some settings.

Module M: Ventilator-associated pneumonia
By the end of this module, participants should be able to: understand how the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in a particular hospital jeopardizes patients with nosocomial infections, like ventilator-associated pneumonia; illustrate the importance of obtaining appropriate specimens for culture and using these results to optimize the use of antibiotics; and emphasize the appropriate duration of therapy for ventilator associated pneumonia.

Module N: Acute Otitis media
By the end of this module, participants should be able to: understand the importance of accurate physical exam findings in distinguishing middle ear conditions that respond to antibiotics and those that do not; emphasize adhering to clinical evidence-based practice guidelines in the management of acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion; and demonstrate non-antimicrobial therapeutic interventions and preventive measures in managing patients with acute otitis media.

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