Health Experts Establish Targets to Improve Hospital Antibiotic Prescribing

National data shows inappropriate prescribing, opportunities for improvements. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur each year, killing at least 35,000 people. All antibiotic use contributes to resistance. To slow the rise of this growing public health threat, antibiotics should be used only when needed and when prescribed appropriately: the proper drug at the correct dose for the right duration. Minimizing inappropriate antibiotic use in hospitals is a vital element in the fight against antibiotic resistance because more than half of patients admitted to hospitals will receive these drugs. Determining how much antibiotic prescribing is inappropriate and setting national targets to reduce such use are necessary steps for guiding clinical efforts and policies that promote improved antibiotic use.

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