You may have heard us at Rapides Urgent Care mention the Antibiotic Stewardship Commendation Award from the Urgent Care Association, or UCA. But what is it, and why is it important? Well, you probably already know why antibiotics are important. They’re used to help fight off bacterial infections by killing bacteria and preventing its spread, keeping your bacteria-caused illness from getting worse and giving your body a chance to recover. Antibiotics are extremely powerful and can save lives when properly used.
Antibiotic Resistance
However, the saying “too much of a good thing is a bad thing” also applies to antibiotics. When the body is exposed to antibiotics too often, it can develop what’s called “antibiotic resistance”, which means that antibiotics can no longer stop all those nasty bacteria from growing. According to the CDC, “germs like bacteria and fungi develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them. That means the germs are not killed and continue to grow”. This can lead to extremely serious emergencies, which is of course the last thing anyone wants.
We’re Proud Members of The UCA’s Antibiotic Stewardship Program
This is why the UCA has developed the Antibiotic Stewardship program to promote the proper use of antibiotics in healthcare. By taking part in this initiative, Rapides Urgent Care strives to make sure that we are mindful in all our uses of antibiotics so that our patients can get the most effective treatments without running a risk of developing antibiotic resistance. And we’re proud to say that our efforts have yielded positive results. Rapides Urgent Care has received the UCA’s Antibiotic Stewardship Commendation three years in a row, and we don’t plan on slowing down. “We remain dedicated to practicing good antibiotic stewardship, including giving the right antibiotics at the right dosage,” says Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Kevin DiBenedetto.
We remain dedicated to practicing good antibiotic stewardship, including giving the right antibiotics at the right dosage.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Kevin DiBenedetto
Rapides Urgent Care is proud to play a role in ensuring our patients receive the best possible treatment and will continue to do so. We treat a wide array of infections, as well as other illnesses such as coughs, colds, lacerations, and more. We see patients three months old and up and are proud to offer our patients the highest quality of care with the greatest levels of service. To learn more about us, or to check-in online, visit our website.