PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 698, p2 - 15 Mar 2014 Improving antibiotic prescribing results in safer healthcare The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have released a new Vital Signs report showing a large disparity between hospitals in antibiotic prescribing practice, with some clinicians prescribing three-fold more antibiotics than clinicians in other hospitals treating similar patients. In addition, the report shows that common prescribing practices in the treatment of urinary tract infections and those involving vancomycin included a potential error (such as administering without proper testing or evaluation, or for too long) in approximately one third of cases. Evidence suggests that improvements in hospital prescribing of antibiotics can prevent fatal infections and reduce the chance of developing a super-resistant infection. To assist hospitals in implementing antibiotic prescribing improvement programmes, the CDC has released tools, including recommendations on seven key elements, an in-depth implementation document, and a self-assessment checklist. The seven key elements include leadership commitment, accountability, drug expertise, taking action, tracking patterns, regular reporting and education. Working with other nearby healthcare facilities to prevent infections, transmission and resistance is also considered critical. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Improving Antibiotic Prescribing in Hospitals Can Make Health Care Safer. Media Release : 4 Mar 2014. Available from: URL: http://www.cdc.gov 809160186 1 PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 15 Mar 2014 No. 698 1173-5503/14/0698-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2014 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved

Improving antibiotic prescribing results in safer healthcare

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PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 698, p2 - 15 Mar 2014

Improving antibiotic prescribingresults in safer healthcare

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) have released a new Vital Signs report showing alarge disparity between hospitals in antibioticprescribing practice, with some clinicians prescribingthree-fold more antibiotics than clinicians in otherhospitals treating similar patients. In addition, the reportshows that common prescribing practices in thetreatment of urinary tract infections and those involvingvancomycin included a potential error (such asadministering without proper testing or evaluation, orfor too long) in approximately one third of cases.

Evidence suggests that improvements in hospitalprescribing of antibiotics can prevent fatal infections andreduce the chance of developing a super-resistantinfection. To assist hospitals in implementing antibioticprescribing improvement programmes, the CDC hasreleased tools, including recommendations on sevenkey elements, an in-depth implementation document,and a self-assessment checklist. The seven key elementsinclude leadership commitment, accountability, drugexpertise, taking action, tracking patterns, regularreporting and education. Working with other nearbyhealthcare facilities to prevent infections, transmissionand resistance is also considered critical.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Improving Antibiotic Prescribing inHospitals Can Make Health Care Safer. Media Release : 4 Mar 2014. Availablefrom: URL: http://www.cdc.gov 809160186