Antibiotic stewardship through implementation of screening tool in primary care

Abstract

<p>Background: After assessing the need for antibiotic stewardship in a primary care office in Greenacres, Florida, using the McIsaac score tool and the Appropriate Antibiotic Use Self-Efficacy Scale (AAUSES), it was determined that there was a lack of standardized practice in the prescription of antibiotics and of education on delayed prescribing for patients presenting with symptoms of an upper respiratory infection (URI). Most viral URIs can be self-managed without the need for prescribed antibiotics, however 60% of antibiotics end up prescribed in the primary care setting (Peters et al., 2011). Therefore, in order to standardize the use of antibiotics, the delayed antibiotic prescribing strategy can be a valuable tool in the primary care setting (de la Poza Abad et al., 2015). The McIsaac score screening tool as well as the AAUSES proved to be valid and reliable instruments that were able to identify URI symptoms presented, capture several domains in appropriate antibiotic use self-efficacy and determine the need for antibiotics. </p> <p>Methods: Eight men and women, ages 18-75 years, of all races participated in the McIsaac score and completed the AAUSES. Three were lost in follow-up.</p> <p>Results: Out of the five who followed-up three were prescribed antibiotics. There was a negative correlation and no statistical significance between those who answered the AAUSES, scored greater than 60 on the McIsaac score and were or were not prescribed antibiotics. </p> <p>Implications for Practice: The results show that the implementation of a valid and reliable screening tool can provide a standardized method in prescribing antibiotics for patients presenting with an URI.</p>