Using Lab Data to Improve Antimicrobial Stewardship

Guiding Clinical Decisions with Microbiology Assay Results

Although antimicrobial resistance has been steadily on the rise, new drug development has been in decline. This dynamic has affected the challenges of managing complicated infections from multi-drug resistant microorganisms (MDRO).

Multi-drug resistance is particularly challenging, especially when organisms are transmitted among vulnerable patient populations. Optimal therapeutic options can be few and limited by potential toxicity that can further compromise patient health. Access to accurate diagnostic data to guide clinical decisions related to these life-threatening infections is critical.

The key objectives of antimicrobial stewardship programs are the promotion of appropriate antimicrobial use, improved patient outcomes, reduced microbial resistance, and the decreased spread of infections caused by MDROs.

In this webinar, you’ll learn about the accurate antimicrobial susceptibility platforms used in clinical microbiology labs, which may include drugs of last resort and other novel treatment options. This data can help inform clinical decisions that may reduce the length and cost of hospital stays and improve patient outcomes.

Learning Objectives

This webinar will help you:

• Evaluate testing options for the rapid identification of resistant infections
• Demonstrate the need for new therapeutics to accompany accurate diagnostics
• Review the impact of COVID-19 on the development antimicrobial resistance
• Discuss the impact of effective stewardship practices on mortality and how accurate laboratory data can guide appropriate decision making

Watch on Demand       Download Slides (PDF, 2.7MB)

Fisher Healthcare is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.™ Program. One P.A.C.E.™ credit-hour will be provided for this complimentary basic level program.

Nathan Ledeboer, PhD

Dr. Ledeboer is the director of medical and technical activities for the Clinical Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics Laboratories of the Medical College of Wisconsin. In this role, he oversees development and implementation of new assays and sign-out of all testing performed in these laboratories. Ledeboer earned a PhD at the University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, completed fellowships at the Washington University School of Medicine/Barnes-Jewish in St. Louis, and is board-certified in medical microbiology.