#135 – Stewie Struggles: Small Hospital Edition

#135 – Stewie Struggles: Small Hospital Edition

Author: Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists May 22, 2026 Duration: 1:02:43

Small hospitals bring unique stewardship challenges, but also unique opportunities. Dr. Tina Khadem and Dr. Ashley Cubillos join host Dr. Whitney Buckel to discuss the realities of antimicrobial stewardship in small and critical access hospitals. From navigating competing priorities and limited resources, to building strong provider relationships in close-knit communities, we have you covered! Join us as we unpack real-world strategies, challenge common perceptions, and highlight the practical pearls you can apply in your own setting.

References:

  1. Implementation of Core Elements at Small and Critical Access Hospitals: https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/media/pdfs/core-elements-small-critical-508.pdf
  2. Stenehjem E, Hyun DY, Septimus E, Yu KC, Meyer M, Raj D, Srinivasan A. Antibiotic Stewardship in Small Hospitals: Barriers and Potential Solutions. Clin Infect Dis. 2017 Aug 15;65(4):691-696.
  3. Veillette JJ, May SS, Gabrellas AD, Gelman SS, Albritton J, Lyons MD, Stenehjem EA, Webb BJ, Dalto JD, Throneberry SK, Stanfield V, Grisel NA, Vento TJ. A Fully Integrated Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Stewardship Telehealth Service Improves Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia Bundle Adherence and Outcomes in 16 Small Community Hospitals. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2022 Oct 14;9(11):ofac549.
  4. Cubillos AL, Fortier K, Hoang A. P-920. Impact of Positive Blood Culture Antimicrobial Stewardship on Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infection Management across Critical Access, Small, and Medium Community Hospitals. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2026 Jan 11;13(Suppl 1):ofaf695.1126.
  5. Smith LM, Ahern JW. Establishing Antibiotic Stewardship Programs in Rural Hospitals to Decrease Fluoroquinolone Prescribing: The Vermont Experience. Infect Prev Pract. 2021 Jan 21;3(1):100121.
  6. Kassamali-Escobar Z, et al. Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol 2024. doi: 10.1017/ash.2024.458. Imlay H, Ciarkowski CE, Bryson-Cahn C, et al Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2025. 46: 150–155, doi: 10.1017/ice.2024.206
  7. Ciarkowski CE, Imlay HN, Bryson-Cahn C, et al. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2025. 46: 143–149, doi: 10.1017/ice.2024.171
  8. Stenehjem E, et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(5):e2313011. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.13011

Learn more about the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists: https://sidp.org/About

Instagram: @SIDPharm (https://www.instagram.com/sidpharm/) or @breakpointspodcast_sidp (https://www.instagram.com/breakpointspodcast_sidp/)https://www.instagram.com/breakpointspodcast_sidp/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sidprx

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sidp/

SIDP welcomes pharmacists and non-pharmacist members with an interest in infectious diseases, learn how to join here: https://sidp.org/Become-a-Member

Listen to Breakpoints on iTunes, Overcast, Spotify, Listen Notes, Player FM, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Google Play, TuneIn, Blubrry, RadioPublic, or by using our RSS feed: https://sidp.pinecast.co/


Hosted by the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists, Breakpoints is a podcast dedicated to the intricate and ever-evolving world of antimicrobial therapy. Each episode delves into the practical challenges and scientific nuances faced by pharmacists on the front lines of patient care, from interpreting susceptibility data and optimizing dosing strategies to navigating the complexities of antimicrobial stewardship. The conversations in this podcast bridge the gap between groundbreaking infectious diseases research and its direct application in clinical settings, offering insights that are both academically rigorous and immediately useful. You’ll hear expert discussions on new resistance patterns, evolving treatment guidelines, and the real-world implementation of life-saving protocols. Designed for healthcare professionals committed to precision medicine, Breakpoints provides a deeper understanding of how to effectively manage infections and improve patient outcomes. Tune in for thoughtful analysis and forward-thinking dialogue that defines the critical role of specialized pharmacists in public health.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Breakpoints
Podcast Episodes
#115 – Silver Lining of Shortages: Blood Culture Best Practices [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:34
Dr. Jeannette Bouchard is joined by experts Dr. Romney Humphries, Emily Fox, and Matt Miller to discuss the hot topic of blood culture stewardship and the details of how these experts persevered through the recent blood…
#114 – Dosing Consult: Amoxicillin/Clavulanate [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:13
Drs. Pier Giorgio Cojutti and Navaneeth Narayanan join Dr. Megan Klatt to break down what you need to know about amoxicillin/clavulanate dosing. Tune in to learn more about the PK/PD of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, h…
#113 – Ask ChatGPT: The Role of AI in Healthcare [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:33
Dr. Brent Richards joins Dr. Erin McCreary to discuss the growing capability for artificial intelligence (AI) and big data in the healthcare industry. What is AI and machine learning, how can these tools enhance patient…
#112 – Say It Ain't Steno: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:10
Drs. Amy Mathers and Julie Ann Justo join Dr. Erin McCreary to talk all things Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, a water-loving organism and frequent colonizer. Hear from the experts on why this organism is so difficult to t…
#111 – Dosing Consult: Rifampin Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:57
Drs. Henry “Chip” Chambers and Warren Rose join Dr. Megan Klatt to tackle rifampin dosing for gram-positive infections. In this episode, they break down rifampin synergy studies and discuss what is the optimal dosing of…
#109 – IDWeek 2024 Recap: Practice Changing Papers and ID Potpourri [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:49
We are back with more exciting IDWeek 2024 content. In this episode, Breakpoints hostesses Drs. Erin McCreary, Julie Ann Justo, Jeannette Bouchard, and Megan Klatt highlight more of our favorite sessions and posters at I…
#107 – Dosing Consult: Valganciclovir [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:05
Drs. Anne-Grete Märtson, Megan Wimmer, and Evan Clemens join Dr. Erin McCreary to tackle the one of the hottest debates among providers taking care of immunocompromised patients, valganciclovir dosing! Learn all about th…
#106 – Stewie Struggles: EHR Edition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:02
Drs. Ed Septimus and Whitney Buckel join Dr. Jeannette Bouchard for our second episode in the series “Stewie Struggles.” In this episode, we focus on interventions within the EHR and what we can do on the end-user side o…