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This session will provide an overview of the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance on a global scale.  Multi-drug resistant organisms are prevalent in most countries for which data is available.  These infections cause severe illness, especially via nosocomial infections in acutely ill patient populations.  Choosing appropriate antimicrobial therapy has become increasingly complex as more and more choices become available, even in lesser-developed nations.  Multiple factors affect the choice of agent, and resistance forces vary widely between clinical settings, patient populations, and geographic areas.     It is important that advanced practice nurses and other clinicians understand the cellular mechanisms through which bacteria become resistant to antimicrobial agents.  It is also vital that clinicians in the acute care setting understand how patient care practices affect resistance within individual patients and within the clinical environment.  This session will provide participants with research-based recommendations on how to manage the use of antimicrobial agents, minimize nosocomial infections in acutely-ill patients, and responsibly care for patients in an age of widespread bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents.  Recommendations will include description of evidence-based guidelines from professional societies, as well as provision of multiple resources both in print and online through which participants may further gain knowledge of the state of the science of this important topic.