25 MIN

• Describe what antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is, how it develops, and its impact on public health, particularly in primary care settings.
• Identify the primary care provider's role in preventing the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance through smart prescribing and stewardship practices.
• Discuss the importance of evidence-based guidelines for antibiotic prescribing in primary care, emphasizing when antibiotics are or are not appropriate for common infections.
• Provide practical strategies and tools that family medicine practitioners can use to ensure appropriate antibiotic use, including patient education, diagnostic testing, and communication techniques.
• Examine common barriers to effective antimicrobial stewardship in primary care, such as patient expectations, time constraints, and diagnostic uncertainties, and discuss ways to overcome them.