Stewardship: Practical Approaches And Applications

This episode of The SHEA Podcast was created with the SHEA Pediatric Epidemiologists and Antibiotic Stewards (PEAS) group specifically for Ronald McDonald House, but the principals would apply to any resident care facility. As of June 2025, the world is experiencing a significant resurgence of measles. The US has documented 1,319 cases across 40 jurisdictions, marking the largest outbreak since 2020. In Europe, there were 12,694 confirmed cases over the last 12 months of reporting – the highest since 1997. Southeast Asia is also heavily affected and, Australia faces its worst outbreak since 2019. Canada has over 3,977 cases reported nationwide – the highest number since the disease was declared to be eliminated in 1998. Together, Matthew Chater, CEO of the Ronald McDonald House in Southwestern Ontario, and Dr. Ayelet Rosenthal from Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago representing SHEA’s PEAS group, walk through a case study on what to do if someone infected with measles visited or stayed in a Ronald McDo

SHEA President Dr. David Weber talks with Dr. Preeti Mehrotra and Dr. Marci Drees about their experiences as SHEA liaisons to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). They discuss reviewing vaccine data, lessons from COVID, and what the future holds for vaccines and public health.

Host Dr. Jonathan Ryder speaks with Dr. Jamie Wagner and Dr. Sheetal Kandiah about the macro- and micro-influences driving antimicrobial costs. They explore how the ACA, pharmacy benefit managers, formulary restrictions, and socioeconomic disparities shape access and prescribing patterns. The discussion highlights real-world challenges for stewardship programs and practical steps to improve affordability and equity in antimicrobial use, with a look ahead at future reforms.

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

This episode of the SHEA Podcast, presented by the SHEA Community Healthcare Epidemiologists and Stewards (CHES) group, explores career paths and professional growth in healthcare epidemiology and infection. Moderator Dr. Katie Passaretti is joined by Dr. Erica Shenoy and Dr. Louann Bruno-Murtha to discuss their career paths, key challenges, and strategies for success in infection prevention. The guests share insights on training for a career in healthcare epi, the biggest IPC challenges they face—staffing shortages, maintaining core practices post-pandemic, and constant disruptions—and how they find support through SHEA, CHES resources, and professional networks. They wrap up with advice for those entering or advancing in the field. Tune in for expert perspectives on thriving in healthcare epidemiology!

In this episode of the SHEA Podcast, moderator Dr. Sheetal Kandiah, Director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Emory University Hospital, explores the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in antimicrobial stewardship with Dr. Richard Medford, ECU Health’s Chief Medical Informatics and Digital Health Officer (CMIDHO). Dr. Medford discusses how AI-driven tools are transforming antibiotic stewardship, improving prescribing accuracy, patient outcomes, and resistance management. The conversation highlights current applications, including predictive analytics and clinical decision support, as well as the impact of big data on stewardship programs. The episode also examines real-world successes where AI has optimized antibiotic use and enhanced patient care, along with key challenges in AI adoption, such as data reliability, ethical concerns, and provider trust. Looking ahead, Dr. Medford shares insights on future AI advancements that could further shape antimicrobial stewardship and healthcare innovatio

In this episode of The SHEA Podcast, host Dr. Leila Hojat is joined by Dr. Pretti Jaggi and Dr. Emily Spivak to explore the growing intersection of antimicrobial stewardship and sustainability in healthcare. The discussion highlights how stewardship programs can reduce the environmental impact of antibiotic production and use, particularly by addressing pharmaceutical waste. The guests share insights into how optimizing antibiotic use promotes more efficient resource utilization, contributing to a broader sustainability agenda. They emphasize the alignment of combating antibiotic resistance with the goals of sustainable healthcare, underscoring the long-term benefits of this synergy. Interdisciplinary approaches, blending antimicrobial stewardship with environmental science and public health, are highlighted as promising solutions to infectious disease management. The conversation also delves into future innovations in stewardship practices, including advancements in technology and collaboration, which are

In this episode of The SHEA Podcast, Past President Dr. Tom Talbot sits down with SHEA’s 2025 President, Dr. David J. Weber, to discuss his inspiring journey in the field of infection prevention and control. Together, they discuss Dr. Weber’s background, his career path, and the experiences that shaped him as a leader. Dr. Weber also shares his perspective on balancing a demanding career, volunteer commitments to SHEA, and personal responsibilities. Finally, he outlines his vision for SHEA during his presidential year, focusing on fostering inclusivity, advancing the implementation of effective practices, and promoting the dissemination of evidence-based scientific knowledge to improve healthcare outcomes.

In this episode of The SHEA Podcast, Dr. Maroya Walters moderates an engaging discussion on the Colorado Antimicrobial Stewardship Endeavor (CASE), a collaborative between the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Children’s Hospital Colorado. CASE supports hospitals across Colorado in implementing the CDC’s Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs to combat antimicrobial resistance. Guests include Dr. Lauren Biehle, Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacy Lead; Dr. Michael Bozzella, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Physician; and Dr. Joana Dimo, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellow. They share how CASE has grown from 17 hospitals in 2021 to 42 hospitals today, offering mentorship, workshops, and evidence-based tools like the Firstline app and CARE PATH adherence tools. Key topics include CASE’s origins in a statewide needs assessment, the roles of public health departments and hospitals in driving stewardship, and initiatives supporting rural and critical access hospitals through

In this episode of The SHEA Podcast, SHEA Journal Club Chair and moderator Hannah Imlay is joined by guests Jennifer Cihlar and David Cluck to discuss two of the most impactful articles reviewed by the journal club this year. The first article, "Bacteremia From a Presumed Urinary Source in Hospitalized Adults With Asymptomatic Bacteriuria" by Advani SD, Ratz D, Horowitz JK, et al., examines the clinical implications of asymptomatic bacteriuria in hospitalized adults. The second article, "Identifying Effective Durations of Antibiotic Therapy for the Treatment of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales Bloodstream Infections: A Multicenter Observational Study" by Soto CL, Hsu AJ, Lee JH, et al., explores optimal antibiotic treatment durations for these challenging infections. Join us for an in-depth discussion on the findings and clinical impacts of these studies.

This episode of The SHEA Podcast is joint collaboration with The American Society for Microbiology (ASM). Today’s moderator, Dr. Francesca Lee, interviews Dr. Laura Filkins from ASM and Dr. Dan Morgan from SHEA. Listen as our guests discuss how the overuse or misuse of diagnostic tests impacts patient care and the potential ramifications in a healthcare setting, as well as common challenges or misconceptions surrounding diagnostic testing, and how diagnostic stewardship can reduce healthcare costs, improve patient outcomes and preventing potential harm associated with unnecessary testing.

This is Ep. 2 of SHEA's two-part series, Impact of Blood Culture Practices on Antibiotic Stewardship & HAI Surveillance & Management. This episode focuses on the controversy surrounding follow-up blood cultures after initial bacteremia episodes. The frequency of obtaining blood cultures and their role in scenarios like leukocytosis and fevers will be explored. Speakers: Joshua Thaden, MD, PhD Rachel Wattier, MD, MHS Moderator: Hana Winders, PharmD, BCIDP

This is Ep. 1 of SHEA's two-part series, Impact of Blood Culture Practices on Antibiotic Stewardship & HAI Surveillance & Management. Speakers discuss effective preventive measures for reducing healthcare-onset bacteremia rates. Speakers: Mark Rupp, MD Anna Sick-Samuels, MD, MPH Moderator: Patricia Pichilingue-Reto, MD, FAAP, AAHIVS

On today’s episode of The SHEA Podcast, Dr. Jorge Salinas is joined by Joseph Perz and Melissa Cumming for a conversation on the existing public health infrastructure for addressing healthcare associated infections and antimicrobial resistance. Listen as they discuss public health’s role in healthcare, specific to communicable diseases, as well as how public health programs interact with partners—such as healthcare systems, professional associations, or quality improvement organizations and how to create effective partnerships.

This is the final episode of SHEA's three-part series, Developments in Transmission-based Precautions. This discussion focuses on the common workflows in the ED and the limitations associated with infection prevention practices when compared to other settings. Speakers will address opportunities to improve infection prevention identified during the pandemic, as well as screening of patients, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and pathogen versus syndrome-based transmission-based precautions. Speakers: John Townes, MD Anna Quay Yaffee, MD, MPH Moderator: Chad Nix, MSc, CIC

Today’s episode of the The SHEA Podcast features a discussion between Dr. Amie John and Dr. Caitlin McGrath. Tune as and listen to their discussion on Dr. McGrath’s work on novel strategies to ensure equity in HAI prevention and the use of existing HAI surveillance systems to identify and mitigate inequities. They discuss where to start, how to get buy in from stakeholders, key metrics to be considered when evaluating the effectiveness of infection prevention efforts, and more.

This is Ep. 2 of the Developments in Transmission-Based Precautions Series. The speakers will elucidate carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales and classifications utilized for multi-drug resistant gram-negative rods, along with their epidemiology. They will address challenges associated with identifying these organisms, recommended precautions for patients colonized or infected, and effective communication regarding their presence, including enhancements to screening methods. Speakers: Charlesnika T. Evans, PhD, MPH Christopher Pfeiffer, MD, MHS Moderator: Chad Nix, MSc, CIC

This is Ep. 1 of SHEA's three-part series, Developments in Transmission-based Precautions. This episode focuses on preventing respiratory virus infections in patients with neutropenia or those undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We’ll explore characteristics of the patient population or local epidemiological trends that might warrant additional precautions and our speakers will provide a synopsis of the recommendations or data used to substantiate such measures. Speakers: Mini Kamboj, MD Lynne Strasfeld, MD Moderator: Chad Nix, MSc, CIC

This is Ep. 2 of SHEA's two-part series, Infection Prevention & Antibiotic Stewardship at End of Life. This episode explores the role of antibiotic treatment in the end-of-life setting with a focus on balancing the role in maintaining comfort and relieving symptoms with the concern for adverse effects, excessive or futile use, and contribution to the development of antibiotic resistance. Speakers: Jon P. Furuno, PhD Susan L. Mitchell, MD, MPH Moderator: Haley Pritchard, MD, MS

This is Ep. 1 of SHEA's two-part series, Infection Prevention & Antibiotic Stewardship at End of Life. This episode focuses on the risks and benefits of IP policies in the acute care setting - such as isolation requirements and visitor restrictions - and how they might (or might not) be adapted at end-of-life. Speakers: Rupak Datta, MD, MPH, PhD Melissa Wachterman, MD, MSc, MPH Moderator: Lindsey Gottlieb, MD