The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is launching an antibiotic tracking system that will allow hospitals to monitor antibiotic use electronically, make better decisions on how to improve use and compare themselves to other hospitals.
Overuse and misuse of antibiotics can change bacteria, allowing them to develop resistance to antibiotics. Antibiotic-resistance bacteria can increase the risk of an infection for which there are limited or no treatment options.
The antibiotic use tracking system is part of CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network. CDC has funded four health departments and their academic partners to implement the tracking system in 70 hospitals. Hospitals that participate in the National Healthcare Safety Network can utilize this tool by working directly with its pharmacy software vendor to transmit data electronically from drug administration or barcoding records.
Before now, CDC was only able to track antibiotic use in physicians' offices.
Overuse and misuse of antibiotics can change bacteria, allowing them to develop resistance to antibiotics. Antibiotic-resistance bacteria can increase the risk of an infection for which there are limited or no treatment options.
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The antibiotic use tracking system is part of CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network. CDC has funded four health departments and their academic partners to implement the tracking system in 70 hospitals. Hospitals that participate in the National Healthcare Safety Network can utilize this tool by working directly with its pharmacy software vendor to transmit data electronically from drug administration or barcoding records.
Before now, CDC was only able to track antibiotic use in physicians' offices.
Related Articles on Antibiotic Stewardship:
Study: Not Enough Hospital Compliance to Antimicrobial Stewardship Guidelines
IDSA Rolls Out Plan to Combat Antibiotic-Resistant "Super Bugs"
