Epidemiologist Discusses LTC Facility Antibiotic Stewardship in CDC Blog
Today on CDC’s Safe Healthcare Blog Nimalie Stone, MD, medical epidemiologist in CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, discusses CDC’s new resource, the Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship for Nursing Homes, to support nursing home efforts to improve antibiotic use.
The CDC recommends all nursing homes implement core elements to improve antibiotic use. Improving the use of antibiotics in healthcare is critical to protect patients and reduce the threat of antibiotic resistance. In nursing homes, antibiotics are frequently prescribed medications; as many as 70% of residents receive antibiotics over the course of a year. However, a large number (up to 75 percent) of antibiotics prescribed in nursing homes are given incorrectly (e.g., the wrong drug, dose, duration, or given for the wrong reason). This antibiotic misuse can harm residents by putting them at unnecessary risk for allergic reactions, drug-drug interactions, highly resistant infections and Clostridium difficile.
Learn more about the Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship for Nursing Homes at http://www.cdc.gov/longtermcare/prevention/antibiotic-stewardship.html.
Join the conversation on appropriate antibiotic prescribing in long-term care at http://blogs.cdc.gov/safehealthcare/category/ltc/.
Long-Term Chronicles: Infection Surveillance Guidance in Long-Term Care Facilities
January 8th 2025Antibiotic stewardship in long-term care facilities relies on McGeer and Loeb criteria to guide infection surveillance and appropriate prescribing, ensuring better outcomes for residents and reducing resistance.
Redefining Competency: A Comprehensive Framework for Infection Preventionists
December 19th 2024Explore APIC’s groundbreaking framework for defining and documenting infection preventionist competency. Christine Zirges, DNP, ACNS-BC, CIC, FAPIC, shares insights on advancing professional growth, improving patient safety, and navigating regulatory challenges.
Point-of-Care Engagement in Long-Term Care Decreasing Infections
November 26th 2024Get Well’s digital patient engagement platform decreases hospital-acquired infection rates by 31%, improves patient education, and fosters involvement in personalized care plans through real-time interaction tools.
