Introduction
Antimicrobial Use & Resistance (AUR – NHSN) focuses on understanding and monitoring antimicrobial prescribing patterns and resistance trends to support infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship. Antimicrobial misuse or overuse contributes to multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), increasing healthcare-associated infection (HAI) risks and complicating patient outcomes.
This course emphasizes evidence-based strategies to track, analyze, and optimize antimicrobial use within healthcare facilities. Learners gain practical insights into NHSN (National Healthcare Safety Network) AUR reporting, interpretation of resistance trends, and implementation of stewardship interventions to improve patient safety and compliance.
Scope
This program covers antimicrobial use and resistance monitoring, including:
- Principles of antimicrobial stewardship and resistance
- NHSN AUR module: reporting requirements and methodology
- Collection and validation of antimicrobial use and resistance data
- Monitoring and analyzing trends in antimicrobial prescribing
- Identification of high-risk antimicrobial practices and MDRO patterns
- Development and implementation of targeted stewardship interventions
- Integration of AUR data with infection prevention programs
- Reporting, benchmarking, and quality improvement strategies
- Staff education and behavioral interventions to optimize antimicrobial use
- Compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards related to antimicrobial stewardship
Objectives
By the end of the program, learners will be able to:
- Understand antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and stewardship principles
- Collect, analyze, and interpret AUR data in healthcare settings
- Identify trends, gaps, and opportunities in antimicrobial prescribing
- Implement interventions to optimize antimicrobial use and reduce resistance
- Integrate antimicrobial use data into infection prevention initiatives
- Benchmark and report AUR outcomes to NHSN and internal stakeholders
- Educate healthcare teams on safe and responsible antimicrobial practices
- Ensure adherence to stewardship protocols and accreditation requirements
Who Can Enroll
This program is suitable for:
- Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) nurses and officers
- Antimicrobial stewardship team members and clinical pharmacists
- Physicians and residents involved in prescribing and clinical care
- Microbiologists and laboratory personnel monitoring resistance patterns
- Quality and patient safety teams
- Healthcare administrators overseeing stewardship and IPC programs
Study Content from TERRALEAP.COM
Learners receive structured study support through TERRALEAP.COM, including:
- Expert-led videos on antimicrobial stewardship and resistance monitoring
- Scenario-based learning covering NHSN AUR reporting and trend analysis
- Guided explanations of prescribing practices, MDRO management, and interventions
- Learning resources designed to reinforce safe, evidence-based antimicrobial use