Socioeconomic Deprivation and Antibiotic Use in Acute Care Settings

Session Description: Antibiotic prescribing is not solely a clinical decision; it is also shaped by the social context in which patients live. This session examines how socioeconomic deprivation influences antibiotic use throughout the care continuum, with implications for infection preventionists (IPs) working in both acute and ambulatory settings. Drawing on national data and case studies, we will examine patterns of overuse and underuse in communities marked by limited access to healthcare, structural racism, housing insecurity, and geographic isolation.

Participants will be introduced to tools such as the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and Social Deprivation Index (SDI) to better understand prescribing trends and identify high-risk zones for targeted intervention. We will also discuss actionable strategies IPs can use to incorporate social risk factors into stewardship programs, surveillance activities, and community engagement.

By the end of the session, attendees will be equipped with the knowledge to advocate for more equitable infection prevention practices, implement targeted quality improvement initiatives, and collaborate with public health and community partners to address the underlying determinants of inappropriate antibiotic use.

This session is particularly relevant for IPs looking to strengthen their health equity work and apply data-driven approaches to stewardship, education, and policy within diverse populations.

Mayar Al Mohajer

Professor, Baylor College of Medicine

Dr. Mayar Al Mohajer is a tenured Professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and the Chief of Infectious Diseases at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center. He also serves as the System Medical Director for Infection Prevention and Antimicrobial Stewardship at CommonSpirit Health, one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the United States. In this role, he leads national initiatives focused on diagnostic stewardship, antimicrobial optimization, CLABSI and bacteremia prevention, and emerging pathogen response. Dr. Al Mohajer is nationally recognized for his expertise in antimicrobial stewardship, health-system quality improvement, and epidemiologic methods. His research includes large-scale analyses using Epic Cosmos and SHARE Enclave datasets, advanced econometric approaches (interrupted time series, difference-in-differences, and synthetic control), and multicenter initiatives on social determinants of health and guideline-concordant antibiotic prescribing. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and presents regularly at IDWeek, SHEA, ECCMID, and APIC. He serves as President-Elect of the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC), advancing national standards for infection prevention certification. A dedicated educator, Dr. Al Mohajer trains fellows, residents, and interdisciplinary teams to become leaders in ID, stewardship, and quality improvement. His work integrates clinical expertise, data-driven analytics, and system-level leadership to improve patient outcomes.

Kevin Chindwal

Infection Prevention Supervisor , Aster Hospital

Mr.Kevin Chindwal ,RN ,CIC,PGDIpC,MBA IP professional with more than 14 yeras of experience in Multiple countries focusing on clinical education ,qulaity imporvement projects of IP.