UCA Commits to Antibiotic Stewardship

The Urgent Care Association (UCA) has outlined a framework by which it plans to guide urgent care centers to reduce inappropriate outpatient antibiotic, with an ultimate goal to curb the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. UCA’s statement notes that with urgent care clinicians treating some 160 million patients annually—many of whom think they may need an antibiotic—this setting is in a strong position to effect positive change. “UCA recognizes the vitally important role our clinicians can play in the responsible use and preservation of antibiotics while focusing on the health of patients,” the statement reads. It suggests that patient education, training and education of both clinical and nonclinical staff, clinical decision support tools, data collection, and evidence-based antibiotic practices will “help lower inappropriate outpatient antibiotic use for monitored conditions or agents by 50% from 2010 levels by 2020—a goal that was laid out in the White House National Strategy for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in 2014.” Efforts will get underway at UCA’s fall conference in Nashville, September 20 through October 1.