Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance

The Problem

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing problem nationwide, caused, in part, by injudicious use of antibiotics. At Hunterdon Medical Center, some antibiotics were losing their ability to cure infections present in patients coming to the hospital. For example, the effectiveness of the broad-spectrum antibiotic Ciprofloxacin was declining against E.coli, klebciella pneumoniae and pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The Solution

Hunterdon Medical Center in 2006 became the pilot site for the 'Bugs and Drugs' program developed by the hospital alliance VHA Inc. and John G. Gums, PharmD, professor of pharmacy and medicine at the University of Florida. This stimulated the development of the antibiotic stewardship program at the hospital. Hunterdon's effort involves regular evaluations of antibiotic resistance at the facility, guidelines for empiric use of antibiotics, and collaboration between physicians and doctors of pharmacy. The initiative focused heavily on Cipro.

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