IDSA Urges Continued Stewardship, Workforce and Research Efforts in Wake of CDC Antibiotics Report

A new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the use of antibiotics in health care settings across the United States in 2018 shows that progress has been made to promote the appropriate use of infection-fighting drugs, but that strengthened and continued efforts are still needed to prevent the accelerating development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The report, Antibiotic Use in the United States: Progress and Opportunities, shows that about 30% of all antibiotic courses annually are prescribed unnecessarily.  It also highlights strides in antibiotic stewardship and surveillance in recent years, as well as persisting challenges in ensuring that the leadership, expertise and education necessary to develop stewardship programs meets ongoing needs. 

In a news release following the release of the report, IDSA urged passage of the Developing an Innovative Strategy for Antimicrobial Resistant Microorganisms – or DISARM -- Act. This legislation would require hospitals to establish stewardship programs, raise reimbursement for new antibiotics and require hospitals to report antibiotic use and resistance data to CDC.  IDSA’s news release also highlighted the importance of programs such as its Antimicrobial Stewardship Centers of Excellence Program, which identifies institutions that demonstrate commitment to combating antimicrobial resistance by aligning with evidence-based guidelines.

Read IDSA’s news release.