OHRH Receives the IDSA Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence Designation

OWENSBORO, Ky. (Aug. 18, 2021) – The Infectious Diseases Society of America has awarded Owensboro Health Regional Hospital the Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence designation. Recognized hospitals have created stewardship programs led by infectious diseases-trained physicians and pharmacists that advance science in antimicrobial resistance. They also have achieved standards aligned with evidence-based national guidelines, such as the IDSA-Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) joint guidelines and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Core Elements. Owensboro Health Regional Hospital is one of 131 programs worldwide to have received the designation since the program's launch in 2017.

The goal of antimicrobial stewardship is to ensure the most appropriate antibiotic is used for every patient who requires treatment. This includes how much, how long and how the medicine is given. This leads to better infection treatment and reduced side effects, better use of resources and, in most cases, decreased costs for both patients and the healthcare system. Additionally, reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance helps ensure the facility will have appropriate options for treating infections in the future."As hospitals continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are also reminded that antimicrobial resistance threatens our ability to treat patients each and every day. IDSA continues to prioritize fighting antimicrobial resistance through research, education, training and policy initiatives. Our Centers of Excellence program recognizes hospitals that are joining us in that fight. These institutions exhibit the innovation and leadership needed to have an impact against antimicrobial resistance and have instituted practices for others to emulate," said IDSA President Barbara D. Alexander, MD, MHS, FIDSA.

The CoE program emphasizes an institution's ability to implement stewardship protocols by integrating best practices. These practices optimize the treatment of infections, reduce adverse events associated with antibiotic use and address other challenging areas related to antimicrobial stewardship. A panel of IDSA member experts in antimicrobial stewardship evaluate CoE applications against high-level criteria established by IDSA leadership for determining merit.

“We are honored to receive this center of excellence designation which affirms our commitment to protecting our patients through the effective use of antibiotics,” said Debbie Bostic, Owensboro Health Chief Operating Officer.

Owensboro Health Regional Hospital's Antimicrobial Stewardship Program includes physicians, pharmacists, nurses, infection prevention specialists, laboratory staff and clinical educators. Infectious Diseases Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Dr. Lance Smith and Infectious Diseases Physician Dr. Gary Wilson lead the program, which provides clinical decision support from an interdisciplinary rounding team, dedicated antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist presence within the hospital, ongoing staff and patient education efforts and continuous monitoring of antimicrobial use to optimize patient care.

"We are greatly honored to be designated as an Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence," said Dr. Smith. "Stewardship team members at OHRH work tirelessly to improve outcomes for our patients, and efforts to optimize infectious disease treatment for today's patients will also benefit tomorrow's patients. For antimicrobial stewardship to be successful, the collaboration between multiple disciplines is necessary. A focus on teamwork has truly made our program impactful. I am proud to say that our institution's program is among the best in the country, and our selection for this designation by the IDSA shows that. We thank our hospital leadership for their continued support, as we could not be successful without their belief in the positive outcomes we can provide for our patients."

To learn more about the IDSA Antimicrobial Stewardship Centers of Excellence program, visit www.idsociety.org/clinical-practice/antimicrobial-stewardship/.