Antibiotic Awareness Week for UC Providers

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is raising awareness about the importance of improving antibiotic and antifungal use during US Antibiotic Awareness Week, November 18-24. Through communication strategies, CDC is reinforcing messages to patients and providers to remind them that anytime antibiotics or antifungals are used, they can cause side effects and contribute to antimicrobial resistance. Additionally, the agency is recognizing that health inequities can result from less-than-optimal antibiotic or antifungal prescribing practices, which may impact health outcomes and result in adverse events in some populations.

Yes, urgent care is onboard: The Urgent Care Association (UCA) is hosting a webinar on common myths and new successes in urgent care antibiotic stewardship on November 14, from 2-3 p.m. Eastern. It features Guillermo Sanchez, MSHS, MPH, PA-C, from CDC; and Patrick Dolan, MD, FCUCM, from PM Pediatrics. Since 2018, UCA has shepherded a longitudinal antibiotic stewardship initiative to improve quality, and dozens of urgent care organizations have made a commitment to the program’s objectives.