But this class of medicines, which includes antibiotics, can cause more harm than good when overused. That overuse can lead to antimicrobial resistance.

The pediatric outpatient antibiotic stewardship project is the first implementation project funded at VUMC as part of the PCORI Health Systems Implementation Initiative, which aims to reduce the estimated 17-year gap between evidence publication and clinical application.

The Vanderbilt Antimicrobial Stewardship Program provides oversight of antimicrobial therapies for both inpatient and outpatient populations.

Efforts to correct mistaken or outdated penicillin allergy records are destined to spread to more patient care areas at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Vanderbilt has partnered with the CDC to combat the crisis of antimicrobial resistance and other healthcare threats through a newly created Global Action in Healthcare Network (GAIHN).

The Vanderbilt Antimicrobial Stewardship Program recently expanded to the outpatient realm to provide more support for providers to optimize antibiotic use and delivery in the clinic setting.