Learning Experiences Within Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Residency Programs in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Jonathan C Cho; Matthew P Crotty; Wesley D Kufel; Elias B Chahine; Amelia K Sofjan; Jason C Gallagher; Sandy J Estrada

doi:10.1093/ofid/ofz387

Learning Experiences Within Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Residency Programs in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Open Forum Infect Dis. 2019 Sep 6;6(10):ofz387. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofz387. eCollection 2019 Oct.

Authors

Jonathan C Cho¹, Matthew P Crotty², Wesley D Kufel³, Elias B Chahine⁴, Amelia K Sofjan⁵, Jason C Gallagher⁶, Sandy J Estrada⁷

Affiliations

¹ The University of Texas at Tyler Fisch College of Pharmacy, Texas.
² Methodist Dallas Medical Center, Texas.
³ Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton, New York.
⁴ Palm Beach Atlantic University Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy, West Palm Beach, Florida.
⁵ University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Texas.
⁶ Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
⁷ Clinical Affairs, T2 Biosystems, Inc., Lexington, Massachusetts.

Abstract

Background: Pharmacists with residency training in infectious diseases (ID) optimize antimicrobial therapy outcomes in patients and support antimicrobial stewardship (AS) programs. Although most ID residencies are accredited and assessed by certain standards, the degree to which these programs are similar is not known.

Methods: A 19-item, cross-sectional, multicentered, electronic survey was distributed via e-mail to pharmacy residency program directors (RPDs) of all 101 second-year postgraduate (PGY-2) ID residency programs in the United States.

Results: Survey responses were collected from 71 RPDs (70.3%); 64.8% were associated with an academic medical center and 97.2% focused primarily in adult ID. Rotations in the microbiology laboratory, adult AS, and adult ID consult were required in 98.6% of residency programs. Only 28.2% of responding programs required pediatric AS and pediatric ID consult rotations. Programs at academic medical centers were more likely to offer immunocompromised host ID consult (P = .003), pediatric ID consult (P = .006), and hospital epidemiology (P = .047) rotations but less frequently offered outpatient AS (P = .003), viral hepatitis clinics (P = .001), and travel medicine clinics (P = .007) rotations compared to programs at nonacademic medical centers. Residents were frequently involved in AS committees (97.2%), pharmacokinetic dosing of antimicrobials (83.1%), precepting pharmacy trainees (80.3%), and performing research projects (91.5%).

Conclusions: The PGY-2 ID pharmacy residency programs demonstrated consistency in required adult ID consult, antimicrobial management activities, committee service, and teaching and research opportunities. Pediatric experiences were less common. The PGY-2 ID residency programs prepare pharmacists to become antimicrobial stewards for adult patients.

Keywords: antimicrobial stewardship; education; infectious diseases; pharmacist; pharmacy residency.