Abstract
Abstract Background The antibiogram is a powerful tool for providers when selecting empiric antibiotic coverage. Its use is recommended by the Infectious Disease Society of America, Center for Disease Control, and clinical decision support resources to aid in antibiotic stewardship and patient care. Antibiograms are a key component of antimicrobial stewardship programs. A quality improvement project was implemented for the family medicine, internal medicine, and surgery residency programs at Creighton University to assess and improve early trainees' comfort with, utilization of, and understanding regarding antibiograms. Methods Forty-two first year residents making up 100% of the post graduate year one classes of the family medicine, internal medicine, and surgery residency programs at a Midwest Academic institution were interviewed in April 2021. Questions collected data regarding the function of, knowledge regarding, comfort and personal experience with antibiograms, as well as past exposure to infectious disease training. Antibiogram training lectures, informational posters, and new methods of accessing the antibiogram were implemented in July 2021. Post implementation of these interventions thirty-seven second year residents and forty first year residents, consisting of 100% of the respective classes of the three residency programs, were interviewed in January 2022. Survey Questionnaire Nine-question survey to gather data regarding residents knowledge and use of antibiograms. Educational Poster Information about how to use an antibiogram and quick response codes to access institutions antibiogram. Posters were displayed in all residency team rooms. Results Our efforts resulted in statistically significant increase in resident reported understanding, utilization, and comfort with the antibiogram. A total of 24/42 of the 2021 residents and 69/77 of the 2022 residents surveyed reported correct understanding of the antibiogram (p < 0.001). Residents who reported knowing how to access the antibiogram increased from 24% to 78% (p < 0.01) and use of the antibiogram in patient care increased by 19% (p = 0.027). The average reported comfort level increased from 2.3 to 4.2 out of 5 (p < 0.01). Conclusion Previous literature documents that many residents are not comfortable with using antibiogram data. This quality improvement project demonstrates that simple inexpensive measures can improve physician's comfort, access, and utilization of the antibiogram. Disclosures Renuga Vivekanandan, MD, MDstewardship: Ownership Interest Christopher Destache, Pharm D, Shionogi Inc: Honoraria.