Antimicrobial stewardship is a term used to describe the practice of improving the meaningful and appropriate use of antimicrobials. At 草榴社区入口, the pediatric antimicrobial stewardship team strives to ensure that antimicrobials prescribed in inpatient and outpatient settings are prescribed appropriately, accounting for patient clinical presentation, diagnosis, antibiotic allergies, and adherence to clinical care guidelines. Antibiotic overuse is a primary driver of antibiotic resistance, and antibiotic resistant bacteria are a continuing problem in our community. Antimicrobial stewardship 鈥 in which everyone is a critical player 鈥 is essential to ensure we continue to use the safest and most effective medications we have for years to come.
Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Assistant Director
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Inpatient Antimicrobial Stewardship
The pediatric antimicrobial stewardship team conducts a variety of activities at Texas Children鈥檚 Hospital campuses (Medical Center, West Campus, Woodlands, and Austin) to improve the use of antimicrobials among children, in line with the .
Activities include:
- Antibiotic tracking and reporting
- Prescribing audit and feedback (aka 鈥淗andshake Rounds鈥)
- Monitoring of restricted antimicrobials
- Diagnostic stewardship
- Management of antimicrobial drug shortages
- Creation of surgical prophylaxis and other evidence-based guidelines
Outpatient Antimicrobial Stewardship
The antimicrobial stewardship team at 草榴社区入口 and Texas Children鈥檚 Hospital have recently published the TCH Outpatient Antibiotic Handbook. A download will be available (anticipated, Fall 2024).
The purpose of this handbook is to provide guidance on the management of common outpatient pediatric infections, including the management of common respiratory tract infections in children with antibiotic allergies and the treatment of recurrent streptococcal pharyngitis and urinary tract infections caused by extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) producing organisms.
Penicillin Allergy De-Labeling
Penicillin allergies are the most common drug allergy labels, but most children labeled as penicillin allergic tolerate penicillin following formal allergy testing. Penicillin derivatives are the treatment of choice for many common respiratory tract infections in children. Therefore, addressing unconfirmed penicillin allergy labels is a priority for antimicrobial stewardship programs.
The BCM Antimicrobial Stewardship Team has partnered with the BCM Pediatric Immunology, Allergy, and Retrovirology Division to establish a penicillin allergy stewardship program for the pediatric community in the greater Houston region. Children with unconfirmed penicillin allergies may be referred to either the pediatric infectious diseases or pediatric allergy and immunology divisions where they will be scheduled for formal penicillin allergy evaluation.
Diana Nguyen, D.O.
Medical Director of Antimicrobial Stewardship
Inpatient Lead
Chief of Pediatrics Infectious Diseases
Former Medical Director of Antimicrobial Stewardship
