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      MinuteClinic’s Commitment to Antimicrobial Stewardship

      In its commitment to promoting antimicrobial stewardship through evidence-based practice, MinuteClinic® is aligned with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). Our goal is to collaborate and actively collaborate with outside organizations to identify and incorporate best practices.

      • All MinuteClinic clinical guidelines relative to the treatment of infections carefully address determining the need for antibiotics, correct dosing of antibiotics including the duration of treatment, and recommend other symptom-based, non-antibiotic treatments for viral and some uncomplicated bacterial illnesses. Based on evolving clinical research in this area, Clinical Practice Guideline adjustments are made to provide the most current evidence-based practice recommendations.

      • Per the CDC, recommendations for initial empiric antibiotic therapy choices should balance treatment efficacy, severity of illness (e.g., sepsis), and the potential for adverse events including the development of antibiotic resistance. When multiple therapeutic options are available, a hierarchy of antibiotic treatment recommendations should be provided with “first choice” options being those with adequate therapeutic efficacy, the risk of facilitating antimicrobial resistance, and the lowest risk of promoting C. diff (also known as Clostridioides difficile or C. difficile) and other adverse events, with consideration of health care value.

      • MinuteClinic does not support the treatment of suspected viral infections with antibiotics.
      • MinuteClinic providers are expected to follow the clinical guidelines with respect to diagnosing and treating both viral and bacterial infections.
      • MinuteClinic is committed to the education of its providers and the communities they serve with respect to the dangers of antibiotic overuse and antibiotic resistance.
      • MinuteClinic supports its multi-disciplinary Antimicrobial Stewardship Council in its commitment to promoting antimicrobial stewardship in the care delivered at MinuteClinic settings through the review and dissemination of current professional literature and the education of MinuteClinic providers, staff and patients. Annual review and reinforcement of MinuteClinic antimicrobial stewardship goals are offered to providers to maintain annual knowledge updates related to this organizational commitment.
      • MinuteClinic does not support the routine use of so-called “Wait-and-See” prescriptions for antibiotics, except in rare uncontrolled circumstances or pandemic related exemptions, patient travel to places where pharmacy access may be limited and/or certain guidelines such as otitis media or sinusitis when clinically appropriate. If writing a Wait-and-See prescription, providers should follow the practice of clearly documenting “wait-and-see” in the sig line of the prescription, with the indicated waiting timeframe “when to fill” and also include an expiration date for the prescription.