Battling Health Care-Associated Infections

Mar 03, 2016 - 08:04 AM

Today’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vital Signs report shines a spotlight on Health care-Associated Infections and what can be done to prevent them. Hospitals are working hard to eliminate infections and keep patients safe. And while we are making progress, our ultimate goal is to get to zero.

One way hospitals are addressing these critical infections is through Antibiotic Stewardship Programs. Hospitals are reviewing the use of antibiotics so that they are used only when necessary to deter the development of new antibiotic resistance. According to a 2015 American Society of Health-System Pharmacist National Survey on antimicrobial stewardship programs, 65 percent of hospitals have implemented an antimicrobial stewardship program, up from 45 percent in 2010.

The AHA through our Physician Leadership Forum issued a toolkit that looks at some of the proven effective strategies that encourage the appropriate use of antibiotics such as:

  • Creating a stewardship program or enhancing an existing one including the core elements, such as leadership commitment, accountability, expertise, tracking and monitoring and education; and
  • Educating patients about why an antibiotic may or may not be called for in specific situations, prescribing them only when necessary.

It will take everyone working together, physicians, hospitals and patients, to reduce these infections and ensure the efficacy of life-saving antibiotics.

Related News Articles

Headline
AHA makes 100 suggestions to Trump administration on providing regulatory relief 
The AHA May 12 responded to the Office of Management and Budget's April 11 request for information on regulatory relief, making 100 suggestions to the Trump…
Headline
CDC says U.S. at 935 measles cases 
The U.S. has had 935 confirmed cases of measles so far this year, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cases have…
Headline
FDA announces recall for certain IV bags
The Food and Drug Administration published a notice from Amneal Pharmaceutical that said the company is recalling two lots of its Ropivacaine Hydrochloride…
Headline
Recall issued for aspiration system by Q’Apel Medical
The Food and Drug Administration has identified a Class I recall of Q’Apel Medical 072 Aspiration System after the company submitted three device event reports…
Headline
Whooping cough cases surpass 8,000 nationwide
There have been 8,064 reported cases of whooping cough in the U.S. so far this year, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and…
Headline
Study finds increase in drug-resistant A. baumannii infections
A study published April 17 by BMC Infectious Diseases found increased incidents of Acinetobacter baumannii and carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii infections…