coding antibiotics

[glm777, BSN, RN]

Does anyone code Bactroban as an antibiotic in section N? We frequently use Bactroban applied to the nares for residents with MRSA of the nares but we haven't coded it as an antibiotic but now we are re-thinking that. What do you all do?

[Talino]

The RAI does not specify which classes of antibiotics to include or exclude. Thus, if a drug is ordered by the MD specifically to inhibit or destroy the growth of a microorganism, then it is an antibiotic. Even the most common Bacitracin applied to a wound to prevent infection is an antibiotic.