Antimicrobial Stewardship in Jails and Prisons: When Will Then be Now?

The Levy CIMAR kicked off its ’22-’23 seminar series with “Antimicrobial Stewardship in Jails and Prisons: When Will Then be Now?”—a look at racial and social inequalities in antibiotic prescribing practices in carceral facilities. CIMAR’s own Alysse Wurcel, MD, MS, whose research focuses on disparities and equity in healthcare, presented on the subject. 

Infections of all kinds—tuberculosis, dental infections, HIV, sexually transmitted infections, COVID-19, and more—are common in jails and prisons, making these facilities places where antibiotics are frequently prescribed. Unfortunately, sometimes antibiotics are prescribed even though they are not clinically indicated, the wrong antibiotics are prescribed, or antibiotics are prescribed for too long.