Antimicrobial Resistance and You

Donna Riddle, BSMT (ASCP)

Epidemiologist

Executive Director, Nevadans for Antibiotic Awareness

Clark County Health District(702) 383-1378

• The Genesis of Resistance

• Nevadans for Antibiotic Awareness (NAA)

• Action Items for You– At Work– At Home– In Your Community

The Gram Stain

• Gram Positive

• Gram Negative

1928: A Mold Changes Medicine

• Dr. Fleming’s discovery

• Penicillin inhibits bacterial enzymes necessary for cell wall production

• Mass production proves difficult

1944

• Military takes penicillin to the battlefield

1945

• Scientists Isolate Resistance

The Next 50 Years

• 1950’s By prescription only

• 1960 Methicillin introduced• 1961 Methicillin resistance• 2001 62 % of S. aureus resistant

• 2000 Linezolid introduced• 2001 Linezolid resistance

How is Sensitivity or Resistance Determined?

Disc diffusion:

Zones of no growth around antibiotic

Factors of Resistance

• Prevalence of resistance genes

• Extent of Antibiotic use

Staphylococcus aureus

• If S. aureus is resistant to methicillin, it is commonly resistant to cephalosporins and imipenem

• Antibiotic of choice: vancomycin

• VISA also known as GISA

Antibiotic Resistant Infections Cause:

• Prolonged hospital stays

• Fewer therapeutic options

• Greater costs

Nevadans for Antibiotic Awareness (NAA)

• NAA is a statewide task force of over 30 state and local public and private agencies and companies committed to reducing the spread of antibiotic resistance.

NAA Subcommittees

• Infection Control

• Public Awareness

• Provider Education

• Surveillance

Forming a new subcommittee:

Veterinary and Agriculture

Abbott Laboratories, Inc.

Albertsons

Bristol-Myers Squibb

Carson-Tahoe Hospital

Clark County Health District

CR BARD Medical, Inc.

GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals

Health Plan of Nevada, Inc.

Insurcorp

Integrated Healthcare Services

Magnus Translations

Nevada State Board of Pharmacy

Nevada State Health Division

Orgill/Singer Insurance & Investments

PacifiCare, Inc.

Pfizer Inc.

Pharmacia

RITE AID Corporation

Roche Laboratories

Saint Mary’s Health Network

Sav-on

Sierra Community Healthcare Foundation

Sierra Health Services, Inc.

Southwest Medical Associates, Inc.

Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center

The Valley Health System and Owen Healthcare

Virgen Advertising

Walgreens

Washoe Health System

Wyeth-Ayerst

NAA Accomplishments

• Distributed healthcare guidelines

• Begun provider education

• Distributed materials to childcare centers

• Developed a statewide public education campaign

Efforts/ contributions by members are voluntary.

Action Items for Work

• Provide home care sheet to patients with antibiotic resistant bacteria

• Always note antibiotic resistance on transfer forms

Action Items for Home• Complete full

course of antibiotics

• Don’t demand antibiotics for viral infections

• Wash your hands

Action Items for the Community

• Educate family and friends

• Support H.R. 1771: Antibiotic Resistance Prevention Act

• Buy antibiotic-free meat

The Genesis of Resistance

Nevadans for AntibioticAwareness (NAA)

Action Items for You-At Work-At Home-In Your Community

Questions?