Prevalence of Antimicrobial Use and Opportunities to Improve Prescribing Practices in U.S. Nursing Homes

Abstract Objectives To describe the prevalence and epidemiology of antimicrobial use (AU) in nursing home residents. Design One-day point prevalence survey. Setting and participants Nine nursing homes in four states; 1,272 eligible residents. Measurement Frequency of antimicrobials prescribed, drug name, start date, duration, route, rationale, and treatment site. AU prevalence per 100 residents overall and by resident characteristic. Results AU prevalence was 11.1% (95% confidence interval, 9.4%–12.9%) and varied by resident characteristics. Most (32%) antimicrobials were given for urinary tract infection. For 38% of AU, key prescribing information was not documented. Conclusion Opportunities to improve AU documentation and prescribing exist in nursing homes.