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Antimicrobial Stewardship Program: Home

Antimicrobial stewardship is a rational, systematic approach to the use of antimicrobial agents in order to achieve optimal outcomes. The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) aims to optimize the treatment of infections and reduce adverse events associated with antibiotic use. This program helps clinicians improve the quality of patient care and patient safety through ongoing monitoring and establishment of antimicrobial prescribing best practices. Through achieving these improved outcomes and appropriate therapies the ASP will have positive financial impacts on the health system. WRNMMC ASP program is IDSA designated Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence. 

Meet the Team

DANA M. BLYTH, MD, Lt Col, USAF, MC  

  • ID Staff
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Co-Director

MEMAR AYALEW, PHARMD, BCIDP, AAHIVP

  • ASP/ID Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Co-Director 

ANDREW NGUYEN, PHARMD

  • ASP Pharmacist  

Contact Us

ASP/ID Clinical Pharmacy Specialist 

  • AMS: WR Antimicrobial Stewardship Team 
  • Office: 301.400.1527
  • Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 0630-1500  (Excluding Federal Holidays)

Background

  • Antibiotic resistance is a significant and progressively worsening problem at healthcare facilities around the world. This fact, combined with the lack of new antimicrobial agents in the drug development pipeline, indicates that optimized, judicious antimicrobial management is necessary to preserve the antibiotics currently available.
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs have been shown to improve patient outcomes significantly by optimizing dosing for individual patients, reducing toxicity, reducing potential development of resistant infections, and decreasing medication costs, while potentially preserving the therapeutic effectiveness of antimicrobials for populations.
  • Effective January 1, 2017, The Joint Commission and Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services requires all hospitals to have a program in place that meets their Antimicrobial Stewardship Standards.

Services

  • Full implementation and oversight of organization’s antimicrobial stewardship program
  • Assessment of compliance with regulatory requirements regarding anti-microbial stewardship program
  • Policy/Procedure/Protocol development with clinical staff
  • Creating organization-specific materials such as the WRNMMC Antimicrobial Stewardship Handbook
  • Develop and maintain an educational training program for antibiogram stewardship 
  • Develop and review pharmacy antimicrobial formulary 
  • Develop/review facility antibiogram and empiric dosing recommendations 
  • Daily availability for record reviews and discussions that can include patient specific recommendations
  • Education and training for clinical and pharmacy staff
  • Review and Assessment of current antimicrobial prescribing practices
  • Data Analytics and identification of opportunities based on current prescribing patterns
  • Regular reporting and advising through prospective audit and feedback
  • PK/PD dosing and TDM
  • Participate/lead QI/PI projects to optimize ASP practice
  • Participate/lead ASP research 

Contact the Darnall Medical Library (DML)

For WRNNMC Healthcare
Providers and Staff
For WRNNMC Patients
  • TRICARE Appointment Line: 855-227-6331
  • Walter Reed NMMC Main Phone: 301-295-4611
  • TRICARE Health Services (includes phone numbers)

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Darnall Medical Library | Walter Reed NMMC | Building 1, Room 3458 | 8955 Wood Road | Bethesda, MD 20889 | 301-295-1184/85 | Open Monday-Friday, 0700-1630

After-hours access to the library is available to WRNMMC Staff via the CDO at 301-295-4611.