CDC Issues Antibiotic Guide To Nursing Homes

Scanning electron micrograph of
human neutrophil ingesting MRSA

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) believes that skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) need to improve their relationships with antibiotic experts and find leaders within to lead stewardship efforts in the administration of antibiotics.  As a result, CDC released Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship for Nursing Homes to guide antibiotic prescribing practices and help reduce the harmful effects of antibiotic resistant infections such as C. difficile.  The guide builds on the CDC's recommendation last year that all acute care facilities design an antibiotic stewardship program.

According to an article in McKnight's:

"[t]he core elements described in the guide include gaining access to experts with experience in improving antibiotic use, tracking how antibiotics are used and identifying leaders within the facility who are responsible for overseeing antibiotic stewardship activities. The guide includes a checklist that providers can use to assess existing practices and review the progress of improvement activities."

"Superbugs that are hard to treat pose a health risk to all Americans, particularly the elderly whose bodies don't fight infection as well," said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H., in a press release. "One way to keep older Americans safe from these superbugs is to make sure antibiotics are used appropriately all the time and everywhere, particularly in nursing homes."

For a recent article regarding the risk of SNF infection risk, go here.