AHRQ Views Blog: Using Antibiotics Safely in Hospitals: Then, Now and Beyond

AHRQ’s support of the current U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week, which each year raises awareness about antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic use, is the subject of a new blog post by Melissa A. Miller, M.D., M.S., a medical officer for AHRQ’s Healthcare-Associated Infections Program. Each year 2.8 million people in the United States get an antibiotic-resistant infection, and at least 35,000 people die, according to the most recent statistics. AHRQ has long funded research and developed practical tools to help clinicians use antibiotics appropriately. The most recent is the new Acute Care Hospital Toolkit, developed after more than 400 hospitals participated in the AHRQ Safety Program for Improving Antibiotic Use. The toolkit helps hospitals develop or improve antibiotic stewardship programs. Access the blog post.

Acute Care Hospital Toolkit

Welcome to the Toolkit To Improve Antibiotic Use in Acute Care Hospitals. The components of the Toolkit can be accessed by clicking on the four boxes below. They include an explanation of the Four Moments of Antibiotic Decision Making and how to apply them in practice. They also include presentations and tools to support implementation of the Four Moments and improve antibiotic prescribing encompassing three critical areas:

Developing and improving your antibiotic stewardship program,
Creating a culture of safety around antibiotic prescribing in your hospital, and
Learning and disseminating best practices for the diagnosis and treatment of common infectious disease syndromes