This page provides antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) resources for aged care providers.
We also have dedicated AMS resources pages for consumers and clinicians.
Quality bulletins
- From the Chief Clinical Advisor: antimicrobial stewardship and catheters – #35 November 2021
- From the Chief Clinical Advisor – #33 September 2021
- From the Chief Clinical Advisor – #32 August 2021
- Information about antimicrobial stewardship in aged care – #31 July 2021
- Updates from the Chief Clinical Advisor – #30 June 2021
- Examining consumer feedback on medication use in residential aged care – #29 May 2021
- Our current work on antimicrobial stewardship – #28 April 2021
- Antimicrobial stewardship – #27 March 2021
- Recognising the signs and symptoms of sepsis can save lives - #45 September 2022
- Quality improvement initiative improves antibiotic use - #47 November 2022
To Dip or Not to Dip
The Commission has developed To Dip or Not to Dip, a quality improvement activity that incorporates an evidence-based clinical pathway, which aims to improve the diagnosis and management of urinary tract infections (UTI) in older people living in aged care services.
Low-value urine dipstick testing practice in aged care is a common, yet modifiable, driver of antibiotic overuse for conditions such as asymptomatic bacteriuria. The Commission undertook a project to evaluate the feasibility and useability of To Dip Or Not To Dip (TDONTD) in Australian aged care services. These findings are published here. A poster highlighting project findings received the award for best poster at the Australasian College of Infection Prevention and Control conference in November 2022.
Video
This training video introduces a clinical care pathway for UTIs.
Presentation and guide
Download the To Dip or Not to Dip: case-based education presentation
Download the Facilitator guide for To Dip or Not to Dip to deliver case-based learning
Audit tool
The audit tool for antibiotics prescribed for UTIs is designed for providers to accurately capture data for residents, and identify areas for action.
Posters and flyers
Download the To Dip or Not to Dip flyer to learn more about the clinical care pathway
Download the Urine dipsticks not used here! poster
Download the Preventing urinary tract infections: recognise dehydration poster
Clinical pathways for suspected UTIs forms
Download the forms for use with residents – with or without a catheter
- With catheter form - Clinical pathway for older people in aged care homes: suspected urinary tract infections (PDF, 276.62 KB)
- Without catheter form - Clinical pathway for older people in aged care homes: suspected urinary tract infections (PDF, 281.1 KB)
Webinars
Using antibiotics well – Do I need a drug for every bug?
In this webinar, a panel of clinical experts explored antibiotics, antibiotic resistance in aged care and how older people can protect themselves.
Approaches to improve UTI management in Australian residential aged care services
In this video, Dr Lyn-li Lim, Infectious Diseases Physician at VICNISS and Consultant at the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, answers questions relating to UTI management in residential aged care services.
World Antimicrobial Awareness Week – 18 to 24 November 2021
The National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship held a 2-day virtual conference as part of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week.
Dr Lyn-li Lim delivered a Commission update on the quality use of antimicrobials in residential aged care services.
Download the presentation (PDF, 10 MB)
Antimicrobial stewardship
This short video explains the relationship between infections, antimicrobials, antibiotic resistance and antibiotic stewardship.
It can be used with consumers or as a training refresher for staff.
Do you need antibiotics?
This flyer can be used by doctors and nurses when speaking to families about the use of antibiotics in treating infections, and also conditions that antibiotics do not treat. This includes asymptomatic bacteriuria or when antibiotics are prescribed for months, sometimes years, just in case infection may occur.
Download the Do you need antibiotics? flyer