In this episode of the SHEA Podcast, host Dr. Jonathan Ryder, Assistant Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, speaks with Dr. Milner Staub, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Their conversation explores practical, high-impact strategies for improving antimicrobial stewardship in outpatient and ambulatory care settings. With the majority of antibiotic prescribing occurring outside of hospitals, outpatient stewardship is a critical area for reducing unnecessary antibiotic use and improving patient outcomes.

Dr. Staub shares insights into her work and research, which focus on helping providers and patients optimize antibiotic prescribing in ambulatory settings. She highlights stewardship interventions that are relatively easy to implement but offer strong returns on investment. A significant part of the discussion centers around the persistent impact of penicillin allergy labels and how outpatient settings can better address this issue. Dr. Staub also discusses antibiotic overuse for acute uncomplicated bronchitis (AUB), offering recommendations for interventions to reduce inappropriate prescribing. The episode concludes with a look ahead at where more research is needed to test assumptions and develop new stewardship strategies.

Listeners are encouraged to explore SHEA’s free CDC-supported Penicillin Allergy Delabeling Course for more information. Thank you for tuning in to the SHEA Podcast.