The Use of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship Program to Reduce Unnecessary Antibiotic Prescriptions Written for Sinusitis in a Rural Urgent Care Clinic Setting

Background: The discovery of antibiotics has been a significant success in fighting bacterial infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2018, inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics contributed to antibiotic-resistant conditions, which led to 2 million infections, and has killed about 23,000 Americans annually (Chaney, 2018: CDC, 2019). By 2050, 10 million people are expected to die globally due to bacterial resistance, with the cost potentially reaching $100 trillion (WHO, 2019). Purpose: The purpose of the DNP Project is to decrease unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions for the diagnosis of sinusitis in a rural urgent care clinic and increase provider awareness of the importance of appropriate antibiotic use. Methods: A quality improvement project was performed by implementing a pre-and post-test to clinicians in a rural urgent care clinic. Post-testing followed a didactic PowerPoint presentation consisting of CDC guidelines for diagnosing and treating sinusitis. Results: Statistical results identified the provider’s use of the most appropriate antibiotics improved after completing the didactic requirements. Statistical data showed no decrease in the prescribing of antibiotics for the treatment of sinusitis. Statistical data supports the providers’ knowledge in diagnosing bacterial versus viral sinusitis. Conclusion: The project helped identify the importance of the appropriate distribution of antibiotics and the need to avoid inappropriate and unnecessary use when treating patients in the urgent care clinic setting