On Monday, Aug. 19, the CDC released Antibiotic Use in the United States: Progress and Opportunities, 2018 Update, which is an update to CDC’s 2017 antibiotic stewardship report. Improving antibiotic use is important to effectively treat infections, protect patients from harms caused by unnecessary antibiotic use and combat antibiotic resistance, which is one of the most urgent threats to the public’s health.
Progress has been made in improving antibiotic prescribing and use, but many opportunities remain. WSHA recommends hospitals read the report, which includes highlights of data from 2018 studies, program activities and resources related to antibiotic prescribing and use in health care settings. It also includes examples of antibiotic stewardship improvements in outpatient, inpatient and long-term care settings from health care facilities and organizations across the country. For more information on antimicrobial stewardship, contact Meg Kilcup.
