This week, both the Joint Commission (TJC) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced initiatives regarding antibiotic education and stewardship. On September 14, 2015, the Joint Commission announced its “Speak Up on Antibiotics” campaign. The campaign was created to help educate the public on the appropriate and safe use of antibiotics, as well as potential issues with overuse of antibiotics. This initiative is part of the JC’s larger effort to promote effective use of antibiotics in health care facilities. The CDC’s newly released guidance – specific to nursing homes – includes recommendations for nursing facilities to improve their antibiotic prescribing practices and reduce the inappropriate use of these medications. Both the Joint Commission and CDC hope these initiatives provide education and ways to expand antibiotic stewardship in healthcare facilities.
The CDC recommendations are an expansion of the CDC’s existing “CDC Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship,” allowing nursing homes to take a less rigid approach to this important initiative. The Core Elements for nursing homes, which the CDC recommends to be implemented one or two at a time, include:
- Leadership Commitment
- Accountability
- Drug Expertise
- Action
- Tracking
- Reporting
- Education
View the Speak Up on Antibiotics press release on the Joint Commission website and learn about the campaign.
View the CDC’s Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship for Nursing Homes press release on the CDC website. Read the guide here.
