Have you "Herd" about antimicrobial stewardship?

For the past three years, West Virginia has led the nation as the top antibiotic prescribing state per capita. But, are these antibiotics doing more harm than good?

Using antimicrobials - including antibiotics - appropriately improves patient outcomes, reduces microbial resistance and decreases the spread of infections caused by multidrug resistant organisms. However, not using them the right way can cause the exact opposite.

Why is stewardship important?

Antimicrobial resistance is a significant public health risk. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics are primary drivers of antimicrobial resistance.

Source: CDC

Our Mission

The WV Antimicrobial Awareness clinical research and outreach team was created to promote the appropriate use through antimicrobial stewardship targeted at both inpatient and outpatient clinical encounters. An estimated 80-90% of antibiotic use occurs in the outpatient setting, with at least 30% of those prescribed deemed unnecessary.¹

The goal of the WV Antimicrobial Awareness clinical research and outreach team is:

To partner with West Virginia medical providers who are faced with unique circumstances when it comes to navigating the nuances of rural health and who do so much for our communities already, often with limited support.
To create a useful tool, not only for medical providers, but for West Virginia families such that we can work together to improve antimicrobial stewardship and prescription rates across the state.

FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

FOR PATIENTS, PATIENT FAMILIES & COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Financial partnership disclaimer: This project is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award and by non-government source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

References: ¹https://apic.org/professional-practice/practice-resources/antimicrobial-stewardship/