This is the First Edition of the Antimicrobial and Clinical Microbiology Guidebook at The Nebraska Medical Center. The development of this guidebook has been a joint effort of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP), the Microbiology Department, the Infectious Disease section, and the Department of Healthcare Epidemiology. The purpose of the booklet is to optimize antimicrobial usage and patient outcomes for infectious disease-related issues. We hope that the information in this booklet will be useful in the provision of best practices to patients at The Nebraska Medical Center.

The content in the booklet can be found online at http://www.nebraskamed.com/asp.

CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS (alphabetical)

Amy Armbrust, MS, MT(ASCP)

Paul D. Fey, Ph.D.

Jodi Garrett, MT(ASCP)SM

Elizabeth D. Hermsen, Pharm.D., M.B.A.

Steve Hinrichs, M.D.

Peter C. Iwen, Ph.D.

Jan Keuchel, RN

Mark Rupp, M.D.

Kathy Talmon, MT(ASCP)SM

Kate Tyner, RN

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The publication of this book was made possible by grants from Ortho-McNeil, Inc. and Elan Corporation.