Optimising antimicorbial use in aged-care homes

Inappropriate antimicrobial use is common in aged-care homes (ACHs). Urinary tract infections (UTIs), respiratory tract infections (RTIs), and infections near the end of life (EoL) are frequent indications for inappropriate antimicrobial use in ACHs. This thesis focuses on antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) activities to optimise antimicrobial use in Australian ACHs. AMS is an ongoing effort to optimise antimicrobial use by health care providers. Specifically, three areas of antimicrobial use in ACHs have been explored: (i) antimicrobial use in UTIs, (ii) nurse-initiated microbiological investigations for RTIs to support optimal antimicrobial prescribing, and (iii) identification of feasible AMS activities for care near the EoL.