Rapidly increasing antibiotic resistance worries researchers spanning the globe as antibiotic-resistant infections impact millions of people every year, according to CDC data.
Here are six key facts:
1. Estimates find such infections cause nearly 2.05 million illnesses every year.
2. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria result in 23,000 deaths annually.
3. CDC estimates find Clostridium difficile contributes to 250,000 illnesses and 14,000 deaths.
4. In March 2017, the World Health Organization compiled a list of antibiotic-resistant pathogens it deemed a priority. WHO named the following three pathogens as the highest priority:
● Acinetobacter baumannii, carbapenem-resistant
● Pseudomonas aeruginosa, carbapenem-resistant
● Enterobacteriaceae, carbapenem-resistant, ESBL-producing
5. Overprescribing antibiotics is a major concern to medical professionals as this practice drives the growing number of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. The American Psychological Association published two studies finding physicians are more prone to prescribe antibiotics if a patient has high expectations
6. Jeffrey A. Linder, MD, associate professor of medicine in the general internal medicine division at Boston-based Brigham and Women's Hospital, gave the following strategies to limit antibiotic prescribing:
● Put up information which give staff members information about antibiotics' side effects and why they may not be effective when fighting viral infections
● Peer comparison
● Have alerts on EHR systems if a provider tries to order an antibiotic not typically indicated for that diagnosis
● Have providers justify their order for antibiotics
