Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing (ND)

First Advisor

Dr. Teresa Hamill

Abstract

In 1928, Alexander Fleming introduced the world to Penicillin. The discovery of Penicillin, one of the world’s first antibiotics, greatly reduced the number of deaths from infections. More than 100 different types of antibiotics have been developed over the past ninety years, resulting in better treatment of diseases. However, the use and misuse of antibiotics have led to antibiotic resistance (AMR). Currently, antibiotic-resistant bacteria kill 700,000 people every year (Tarín-Pelló et al., 2022). Procalcitonin (PCT) is a biomarker that can be utilized in the guidance of antibiotic therapy. PCT levels tend to rise in response to bacterial infections but remain low in viral infections or other inflammatory conditions. By monitoring PCT levels, providers may be able to better differentiate between bacterial and non-bacterial causes of infection, which could help reduce unnecessary antibiotic use. A clinical practice guideline (CPG) tool assists in determining the appropriate initiation and continuation of antibiotics. For this project, participants were given informed consent, a pre-test survey, and an educational video to view, followed by a post-test survey. Analysis of the survey results indicates that most participants do not currently utilize procalcitonin as a guide for antibiotic therapy. However, after viewing the educational video, the majority of the participating providers were more likely to utilize procalcitonin as a guide for antibiotic therapy in their practice. 5 As a result of this project, PCT utilization as a guide for antibiotic therapy is recommended to increase timely antibiotic usage, prevent unnecessary antibiotic exposure, and prevent further antimicrobial resistance.

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