Antimicrobial Stewardship Program
Antimicrobial resistance is a major threat to our patients and the health care environment. Antibiotic resistance has resulted in 2 million infections and more than 23,000 deaths every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Additionally, they estimate more than 30 percent of antibiotics are prescribed unnecessarily.
The Saint Luke’s Health System Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) aims to promote the judicious use of antimicrobials, suppress development of antimicrobial resistance, decrease untoward effects of unnecessary antimicrobial use, and improve outcomes for the patients we serve.
The ASP launched in August of 2015 after a successful pilot at Saint Luke’s North Hospital in 2010. The program’s core structure is composed of infectious disease pharmacists, an infectious disease physician, and a data analyst. It is supported by a committee of specialists in the area of infectious diseases, including physicians, pharmacists, microbiologists, infection prevention nurses, system leadership, among others.
Mission and vision
To achieve the best possible antimicrobial related outcomes across the Saint Luke’s Health System by ensuring the optimal selection, dose, and duration of antimicrobials for treatment or prevention while minimizing the impact of possible side effects and antimicrobial resistance.
Our vision is to improve use of antimicrobials and the resultant quality of care delivered to our patients.
National attention
Ahead of the curve, the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program is well positioned to exceed all established and pending regulatory standards that have gained national attention. Currently, Missouri is the second known state to enact legislation requiring the establishment of an ASP in hospitals. Our program’s structure and proactive work ensures that patients will continue to receive the best care.
Program expansion
Antimicrobial stewardship is needed in both the inpatient and outpatient setting to maximally influence appropriate antimicrobial use. In 2019 the ASP expanded from an inpatient-only program to now also cover ambulatory care, including convenient care clinics. With the expansion, the ASP now serves a large array of patients through many locations throughout the Kansas City region. Its coverage includes:
- 18 hospitals
- 239 physician practices
- 13 convenient care clinics
- 7 walk-in clinics
- 2 long term care facilities
- 1 surgery center
- 1 rehabilitation hospital
Our team
Many individuals in the health system contribute to the program’s success. Clinical initiatives of the program are vetted through the Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee and structural leadership is provided by an oversight committee.
Meet the core team of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program:
Sarah Boyd, MD, Medical Director
Education
- Combined BA/MD program, University of Missouri–Kansas City
- Internal Medicine Residency, University of Missouri–Kansas City
- Infectious Disease Fellowship, University of Missouri–Kansas City
Interests in infectious diseases
- Antimicrobial Stewardship, particularly inpatient and care transitions
- Infection prevention and prevention of health care associated infections
- HIV care and prevention
Tim Berry, PharmD, BCPS
Education
- Pre-pharmacy, Southwest Baptist University
- Doctor of Pharmacy, University of Missouri–Kansas City
Post-graduate training
- Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City
Interests in infectious diseases
- Optimizing antimicrobial therapy utilizing pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic principals
- Endocarditis and other cardiothoracic infections
- Food and beverage fermentation and microbial propagation (outside of work, of course)
Nick Bennett, PharmD, BCPS, Program Manager
Education
- Pre-pharmacy, University of Iowa
- Doctor of Pharmacy, Creighton University
Post-graduate training
- Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City
Interest in infectious diseases
- Antimicrobial resistance
- Rapid diagnostics
- Clostridioides difficile infections
Erin Johnson, MS, MBA
Education
- Bachelor of Science, Colorado State University
- Master of Science, Rockhurst University
- Master of Business Administration, Rockhurst University
Interests
- Predictive/prescriptive analytics
- Data visualization
- Machine learning/AI
Laura Aragon, PharmD, BCIDP
Education
- Doctor of Pharmacy, University of Missouri–Kansas City
Post-graduate training
- University of Florida Health Shands Hospital
Interests in infectious diseases
- Antimicrobial Stewardship
- Multidrug resistant infections
- Education
Research & Publications
Saint Luke’s has long been committed to innovative care fueled by commitment to novel research. Infectious disease research has vast potential in our health system and is especially relevant since our network of hospitals is representative of the nation at large.
Examples of our research and publications include:
- Alternative dosing strategies for daptomycin using adjusted body weight
- Understanding inpatient antimicrobial stewardship metrics
- Centralized communication of blood cultures leveraging antimicrobial stewardship and rapid diagnostics
- Pharmacy-driven assessment of appropriate antibiotic selection in patients with reported beta-lactam allergy