HHS celebrates commitment to reduce antibiotic resistance

The Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last night celebrated nearly 350 organizations, including the AHA, during the UN General Assembly in New York for their commitment to combat antimicrobial resistance as part of The AMR Challenge. They asked partners to continue their commitments to reduce antibiotic resistance. “The success of the Challenge over the past year demonstrates what is possible, in the relatively short term, when we have real commitment to the fight against this pressing public health threat,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. AHA helped members reduce antimicrobial resistance through targeted assessments used in a CDC action collaborative to prevent infections. The AHA Physician Alliance also hosted a collaborative to drive appropriate antibiotic use and other high-value care initiatives. In addition, the association helps hospitals improve antibiotic use and share best practices through the AHA-Health Research and Educational Trust Hospital Improvement Innovation Network; Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Safety Program for Intensive Care Units; the C. Difficile Infection Prevention Collaborative; and CDC/STRIVE Infection Control Training. Jay Bhatt, D.O., AHA senior vice president and chief medical officer, represented AHA at the event.