Office of Primary Care and Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program

Infectious disease physician Lindsay Smith, M.D., M.A., assistant professor of medicine, is director of the University of Vermont Medical Center’s Antimicrobial Stewardship Program.

(DECEMBER 10, 2024) UVM Medical Center (UVMMC) infectious disease physician Lindsay Smith, M.D., M.A., assistant professor of medicine, and John Ahern, Pharm.D., clinical associate professor of medicine, an infectious disease pharmacist at UVMMC, discussed the correct use of antibiotics with WCAX-TV.

Smith runs the medical center’s Antimicrobial Stewardship Program alongside Ahern. Their goal is to promote the correct use of antibiotics and prevent the fallout of improper treatment. Improper antibiotic prescription can kill good bacteria and lead to resistance, which is when doctors reach for a second option.

“If we get too much resistance from inappropriate antibiotic use and mutations of the bacteria, then we have to start using drugs that are not quite as safe for broader spectrum,” said Smith.

Ahern says patients should still follow their doctor’s instructions but ask whether they have an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program to assess proper antibiotic use. That way, doctors can keep antibiotics in their toolbox. “If I use them indiscriminately, over time they’ll lose their effectiveness, and I’ll lose another tool with which to treat my patients,” said Ahern.

Experts emphasize that sickness prevention is just as important as proper treatment. That means get vaccinated, wash your hands, and practice safe gatherings.