Deaths From Antibiotic Resistant Infections Expected to Double
TeleAntibiotic stewardship programs put a solution in hospitals’ hands
An estimated 8.2 million deaths associated with antimicrobial resistance could occur globally by 2050, nearly double the 4.7 million deaths that occurred in 2021, according to recent research published in Lancet.
Appropriate, judicious use of antibiotics is key to reducing deaths from antibiotic-resistant infections, like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, as well as reducing overall health care costs. The national cost to treat infections caused by just six multi-drug resistant germs exceeds $4.6 billion annually.
In addition, antibiotic stewardship is a compliance standard for both the Joint Commission and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As of Jan. 1, 2023, all Joint Commission-accredited hospitals must have an antibiotic stewardship program, and CMS requires hospitals to have a hospital-wide program for the optimization of antibiotic use through stewardship as a condition of participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The Joint Commission expressly permits remote participation by specialists in the multidisciplinary committee that oversees the hospital’s antibiotic stewardship program, making an Access TeleCare antibiotic stewardship program an easy-to-deploy solution.
“Our collaborative, infectious disease specialist-led antibiotic stewardship programs dramatically reduce unnecessary antibiotic use, reducing avoidable costs and elevating patient care,” said Jade Le, M.D., Access TeleCare chief of infectious disease.
Benefits of Access TeleCare’s Antibiotic Stewardship Programs
With Access TeleCare’s antibiotic stewardship programs, hospitals can be sure they are always adhering according to the latest antibiotic guidelines and best practices and reducing unnecessary and inappropriate antibiotic use. Every Access TeleCare antibiotic stewardship program is led by a board-certified infectious disease specialist who works with on-site pharmacy leaders and specialists to help prevent antimicrobial resistance among patients.
Learn more about our antibiotic stewardship programs here.
