Information For Healthcare Professionals

At the turn of the century, physicians had few medicines to treat infectious diseases, and elixirs were prescribed with little effect. Dr. Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928, but it was difficult to produce in quantity. In March 1942, a 33 year-old woman treated with penicillin became the first U.S. civilian whose life was saved by this miracle drug. By 1945, war-motivated industries spurred full-scale production and penicillin became widely used by the armed forces.

1945 was also the year scientists isolated the first Staphylococcus aureaus bacterium resistant to penicillin. The introduction of methicillin in 1960 advanced treatment of resistant organisms, but by 1991, 29% of S. aureus in the U.S. were resistant to methicillin. Today in Clark County, Nevada, it is estimated that 62% of S. aureus are methicillin resistant. Antimicrobial resistance has spread to almost all pathogenic organisms, and unless action is taken quickly to revert this trend, previously treatable infections will again become untreatable, as in the pre-antibiotic era.

Nevadans for Antibiotic Awareness is actively working to distribute information to healthcare professionals throughout the state. Enclosed you will find information detailing our non-profit organization, as well as various information sheets, posters and brochures regarding antimicrobial resistance. We encourage you to read this information, and make copies for your staff and patients.

The members of Nevadans for Antibiotic Awareness are confident that the cooperation of healthcare professionals throughout the state, combined with our public education and infection control campaigns, will produce a decline in the rate of antimicrobial resistance in the state of Nevada. Your participation is vital to the program’s success, and we thank you for your help.

NAA Clinical Practice Guidelines

Click on a link for more information on antibiotic use guidelines:

Adult Appropriate Antibiotic Use Summary

Stemming the Tide of Antibiotic Resistance

Recommendations by the CDC/AAP to Promote Appropriate Antibiotic Use in Children

Fact Sheets about Antimicrobial Resistance For Health Professional Use

Practitioner - Presentations

Click on a link to download a presentation. You will need Microsoft Powerpoint to view these presentations.

Infection Control in the Surgical Center

Partners Conference 2004

NAA APIC Presentation April 2003

NAA APIC Presentation March 2002

NAA School of Pharmacy Presentation

Practitioner - Resources

For a basic overview of the CDC Program “Get Smart: Know when antibiotics work.” Click on
http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/specific-groups/healthcare-providers.html

The following articles were written by Gary Skankey, M.D., an Infectious Disease physician based in Las Vegas, NV, and sponsored by Nevadans for Antibiotic Awareness (www.nevadaaware.com)

A Practical Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment of Infection in the Outpatient Setting: Avoiding Unnecessary Use and Misuse of Antibiotics

A Practical Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment of Infection in the Outpatient Setting: Diagnosis and Treatment of Pharyngitis

Community Acquired Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

A Practical Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment of Infection in the Outpatient Setting: Diagnosis and Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections

Practical Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment of Infection in the Outpatient Setting: Diagnosis and Treatment of Skin and Soft Tissue Infections

Get Smart Partners Listing can be viewed by clicking on the following link:
http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/specific-groups/partners.html