Mastery Monday: Azithromycin is a fun antibiotic to learn about because it's kind of weird. It's also not as effective as it used to be, which is a global concern due to overprescribing because it is cheap and easily accessible. Who hasn't had an unnecessary Z-Pak? I think most of us have.

Mastery Monday: This week it's oral cephalosporins.The main point is that even though your isolate is susceptible to a ceftriaxone, that doesn't mean the drugs will cover it. We usually use cefazolin as a surrogate.PharmSoHard did a really good podcast about cefdinir data and controversies in 2023.

Mastery Monday: Since it's early in the school year for our new students, residents, and fellows, I thought I'd start doing some "Mastery Monday" posts with some simple, easy to digest facts that will help you all grow into good stewards. If you have an idea for a future topic, let me know.

We have Amanda's CAP guideline summary here, though there is a little controversy with this one!

I've summarized the new cUTI IDSA guidelines (they came out on July 17. A new CAP guideline came out then too but there's some IDSA/ATS drama so I was waiting on the official IDSA letter for that one - who knew ID was so spicy?).

Sunday kicks off Shark Week, and it’s also the 50th Anniversary of Jaws this summer! You might wonder what sharks have to do with stewardship. As apex predators, they face many of the same challenges we do. Stewardship is a team sport and affects the whole ecosystem! #SharkWeek #jaws50

Did you know that today's holiday used to be associated with tetanus? The severity of the disease led some to compare the holiday's death toll to that of major battles for independence.

Check out our latest blog post to join our education committee and find out more about the ADH survey. www.arstewardship.org/post/join-ou...

If you’re like me and couldn’t make it to MAD-ID, you can follow here.

I'm behind on my MMWR, but the March 27th edition had a case study about an Arkansas splash pad and a fatal N. fowleri infection. I'm sure most of us remember the case (it was in 2023) but it's an interesting article with some information about the almost always fatal amoeba.

Happy Medical Laboratory Professionals Week to all the lab peeps. We couldn’t do it without you.

What a great #ARSAS yesterday! Thank you to everyone who attended! We couldn’t do it without your support.

New Mexico has entered the chat... www.koat.com/article/new-...

📝 Here are cliff notes on the new FDA-approved product #Emblaveo www.idstewardship.com/drugs/aztreo... 💠 IV only 💠 Activity vs Ambler Class B metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) producing gram negative bacteria (e.g., NDM) 💠 Likely will be expensive 💠 Has been approved in Europe since April 2024 #IDsky

Yo, doc. So they say the half-life's long.

Big Data Bayesian Truths: No Vancomycin Trough Concentration Target is Sufficiently Precise for Safety or Efficacy ✅ Just Accepted #IDSky

Our love for stewardship is infectious! Find out more about all the great topics at the stewardship summit on our site: www.arstewardship.org/event-detail...

Are your stewardship interventions love notes or lectures? Learn how to increase your influence with communication strategies at our conference on Feb 28!

I'm excited to post our summit schedule (www.arstewardship.org/summit for the full schedule). I seriously can't decide which of the breakouts I want to see. I want to see them all!

A great feature on one of our board members, Shanda Ferguson, Pharm.D. The featured article underscores her commitment ensuring that residents of Arkansas receive the highest standard of care, even in rural areas.

All this weather made me think of psychrophiles! Most microbes won't survive in these cold temps, but these guys thrive in it. You can read more here: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

Happy New Year's Eve! Wishing you all a joyful and prosperous new year ahead! The conference is right around the corner. We can't wait to see you there.

Who needs all those birds? What every person interested in ID really wants is to join us in February to learn and share with Infectious Disease specialists throughout the state! Registration is open now. There are discounts for trainees. www.arstewardship.org/event-detail...

On the twelfth day of ID Christmas, in patient histories, 12 normal urines, eleven wounds a weeping, 10 courses completing, 9 pipettes piping, 8 livestock exposures, 7 Vibrio swimming, 6 chest x-raying, 5 golden Staph, 4 shedding birds, 3 gram stains, 2 vials of vanco, and E. coli in a petri.

On the eleventh day of ID Christmas, in patient histories, eleven sounds a weeping, 10 courses completing, 9 pipettes piping, 8 livestock exposures, 7 Vibrio swimming, 6 chest x-raying, 5 golden Staph, 4 shedding birds, 3 gram stains, 2 vials of vanco, and E. coli in a petri.

On the tenth day of ID Christmas, pharmacy gave to me ten courses completing, nine pipettes piping, eight livestock exposures, seven Vibrio swimming, six chest x-raying, five golden Staph, four shedding birds, three gram stains, two vials of vanco, and E. coli in a petri.

On the ninth day of ID Christmas, micro lab gave to me nine pipettes piping, eight livestock exposures (the patient milks cows for a living), seven Vibrio swimming, six chest x-raying, five golden staph, four shedding birds, three gram stains, two vials of vanco, and E. coli in a petri.

On the eighth day of ID Christmas, in patient histories: eight livestock exposures (the patient milks cows for a living), seven Vibrio swimming, six chest x-raying, five golden staph, four shedding birds, three gram stains, two vials of vanco, and E. coli in a petri.

On the seventh day of ID Christmas, micro lab gave to me seven Vibrio swimming, six chest x-rating, five golden staph, four shedding birds, three gram stains, two vials of vanco, and E. coli in a petri.

On the sixth day of ID Christmas, in patient histories: six chest x-rating, five golden staph, four shedding birds, three gram stains, two vials of vanco, and E. coli in a petri.

On the fifth day of ID Christmas, microlab gave to me: five golden staph, four shedding birds, three gram stains, two vials of vanco, and E. coli in a petri. Golden staph is always the gift that keeps on giving (us trouble).

“Just how many birds did the patient get for Christmas? Are they running an aviary? This is going the differential.”

On the third day of ID Christmas, pharmacy gave to me three gram stains, two vials of vanco, and E. coli in a petri.

Our poster session is open for abstract submission. If you're planning to come to the summit and have a fun project to share, submit yours. www.arstewardship.org/submit

On the second day of ID Christmas, pharmacy gave to me two vials of vanco and E. coli in a petri.

Let’s do this. It’s the 12 days of ID Christmas.

The CDC has some good tips about holiday leftovers and thawing and cooking your turkey and other dishes safely! Happy holidays. www.cdc.gov/food-safety/...

We’re at the end of our celebration of antibiotic awareness week! You can continue fighting AMR with us in February at the annual Arkansas Summit for Antimicrobial Stewardship if you’re in Arkansas. Say hi if you’re there! There’s no bad blood with my Bluesky friends!

Animals, including our pets and livestock, can carry germs that can spread and contribute to #AntimicrobialResistance (AR)? Here are some simple actions you can take to protect yourself & your pet & fight AR! #USAAW #arstewardship

Bacteria help each other out! Let's do the same. Antibiotic exposure is a leading risk for antimicrobial resistance. Learn when antibiotics are unnecessary to help combat resistant infections in our community. #USAAW24 #BeAntibioticsAware #ItTakesAllofUs #ARstewardship

I'm sure those of us in healthcare have answered the same question 20 times this week: how does E. coli get into carrots? I don't know the specifics, but there are a variety of ways that our food comes into contact with potentially pathogenic bacteria. #arstewardship #USAAW2024

It's World AMR Awareness Week! #WAAW We will be sharting recent research, reviews and views on AMR from the JHI throughout the week. If you want to know more about what's going on globally, you can find out on the WHO campaign site here: ow.ly/Qbc650U7eeC

Happy World Antimicrobial Awareness Week! Look what our amazing stewardship pharmacist Kristi made! 😍 #WAAW #AMR #AMSky @gurujosh.bsky.social How are you celebrating?

Hot off the presses: Governor Sanders declared this week as Antibiotic Awareness Week in Arkansas. On average, 1.02 antibiotic prescriptions are written per Arkansan every year, making Arkansas the 6th highest state for outpatient prescribing. #usaaw #arstewardship

Everyone has a role in fighting antimicrobial resistance. #USAAW24 #ItTakesAllOfUs #ARStewardship

I’m cefazolin. A “jack of all trades”, skilled at a wide variety of activities and known to be a hard-worker. I guess.

🌟 ABX Pearl of the Day: Distinguishing aspiration pneumonitis from aspiration pneumonia 📋 Q: Patient with aspiration event and new onset fever & hypoxia started on empiric ABX for suspected aspiration pna. Fever and hypoxia resolve within 12 hours. Should we continue ABX? 🤔 #IDsky #MedSky #PharmSky

Each year in the United States, at least 2.8 million people are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria—at least 35,000 die. Prior antibiotic exposure is one of the top risks for these deadly infections. Use antimicrobials wisely. #USAAW24 #ItTakesAllOfUs #ARStewardship

New here? Here are some ID folks to follow.

Is anyone else in Arkansas in ID over here? The Arkansas contingent is raising the roof (raising the roof to the sky - we're also corny). #IDSky