Nursing Home Resources

Getting Started with Stewardship for Nursing Homes

Harms from antibiotic overuse are significant for the frail and older adults receiving care in nursing homes. According to the CDC, 40-75% of antibiotics prescribed in nursing homes may be unnecessary or inappropriate (Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship for Nursing Homes, CDC). Antimicrobial stewardship programs can help protect residents from harm stemming from antibiotic overuse.

The resources below are designed to assist all nursing home healthcare professionals with implementing a stewardship program.

WA DOH Implementation Resources 

  • American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) Toolkit Flyer (PDF)
    The ASCP Antimicrobial Stewardship Toolkit offers practical guidance for starting, growing, and maintaining an antimicrobial program, ensuring compliance with CMS Long-Term Care regulations. This specialized curriculum will equip you with the skills to manage antimicrobial use effectively in long-term care settings, and it’s available for free through the Washington State Department of Health.
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship Toolkit
    Contains resources that can assist facilities with implementing and maintaining a stewardship program.
  • Skilled Nursing Facility AMS Collaborative (PDF)
    Enhance your antimicrobial stewardship expertise and skills through WA DOH’s SNF AMS Collaborative. The collaborative will run from September 2024 – May 2025, and will consist of monthly 45-min sessions. Each session will include a concise presentation, hands-on activities, and Q&A. Benefits of participation include improved antibiotic use and survey readiness. Earn a certificate upon completion, demonstrating your enhanced stewardship expertise.
    Join the SNF AMS Collaborative

CDC Resources

Quality Improvement (QI) Tools

Regulations & Accreditations

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Clinical Guidance

Local Clinical Guideline Creation Guidance Document

Antibiotic Treatment Guide

National Clinical Guidelines

  • IDSA Practice Guidelines
    • Contains guidelines for common disease states such as pneumonia, skin infections, and urinary tract infections

Education

Providers

  •  WA DOH & WA-PALTC’s Urine Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based (PCR) Testing Guidance Document
    • Urine polymerase chain reaction-based (PCR) laboratory testing has been promoted to clinicians as an alternative method of obtaining urine cultures. Due to the high prevalence and overuse of antibiotics for asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) in the post-acute and long-term setting, guidance on the topic of PCR urine testing is provided to ensure safety
  • Medical Providers FAQs About Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)(PDF)
    An evidence-based document that addresses some common drivers for antibiotic prescribing for asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB)
  • WA DOH’s & WA-PALTC’s Antibiotic Stewardship of UTI in the Long-Term Care Setting Lecture Series
    • Session 1: Is it ASB or UTI? A Case-Based Approach
    • Session 2: Debunking the Myths Associated with UTI
    • Session 3: Go with the Flow: A Case-Based Approach
    • Session 4: Implementing Antimicrobial Stewardship in a Long-Term Care Setting Panel Discussion

All Healthcare Professionals

Data

CDC’s Antibiotic Resistance and Patient Safety Portal (ARSP)
This portal helps facilities explore and visualize national and state-specific data relevant to antibiotic stewardship and infection prevention programs

Questions and Feedback

Email us at: ams@doh.wa.gov