Recently, FierceHealthcare reported real-time data use by healthcare organizations can help take their antimicrobial stewardship programs to the next level.
Inappropriate use of antibiotics cost as much as $34 billion each year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and patients are three times more likely to be infected with resistant bacteria. Organizations with an effective antibiotic and antimicrobial stewardship program combine the CDC’s guidelines with two additional tactics. First, they use surveillance technology to monitor for potential issues, which allows health organizations to aggregate data in real time for at-risk patients. Second, hospitals use effective workflow governance rules that increase clinical interventions to prevent improper antibiotic prescribing.
Click here to access the FierceHealthcare article
We are working within our region to help slow the emergence of bacterial resistance and prevent the spread of resistant infections through resource sharing, information and education on the principles of antimicrobial stewardship. We are partnering with practitioners, pharmacists, system leadership as well as consumers of care. Antibiotics are a precious resource and preserving their usefulness will require cooperation and engagement by all. Want to learn more and get connected? Visit our Web site to join our Learning and Action Network and access information and resources on this important topic.