Antibiotic Stewardship Program (ASP)/Clostridium difficile (C. difficile)/Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Initiative
The ASP/C. difficile/MRSA Initiative is designed to support hospitals’ work to implement best practices to enhance antibiotic stewardship, reduce C. difficile, MRSA and other multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs).
Goal:
To reduce C. difficile, MRSA and other MDRO infections by 20%, and improve appropriate antibiotic utilization.
Approach:
NYSPFP's approach to antibiotic stewardship and reducing
C. difficile, MRSA and other MDRO infections includes encouraging hospitals to implement the following key strategies:
- Implementing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Core Elements for antibiotic stewardship, including:
- Leadership commitment
- Accountability, drug expertise, and interdisciplinary team involvement
- Implementation of recommended actions or policies such as systemic evaluation of ongoing treatment need, automatic IV to oral antibiotic or dose adjustment
- Tracking and reporting of antibiotic usage
- General infection prevention practices:
- Identification of patients at risk
- Hand hygiene
- Environmental cleaning – terminal and daily cleaning practices
- Isolation and cohorting protocols
- Contact precautions