CDC puts new focus on antimicrobial stewardship

Abstract

Arjun Srinivasan Now that about 95% of US hospitals have implemented antimicrobial stewardship programs that meet core elements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it’s time to shift resources to the most effective stewardship strategies, says CDC medical epidemiologist Arjun Srinivasan. “Not all stewardship approaches are created equal,” said Srinivasan, the featured speaker at the December 5 educational session “CDC Update on Antimicrobial Stewardship 2022” at the Midyear Clinical Meeting & Exhibition in Las Vegas, NV. Srinivasan said CDC is promoting specific practices that should be prioritized for implementation. “We have been working with the stewardship community, with lots of experts, to try and identify what should we be pointing people to if they’re ready to take their next step with their stewardship program,” he said. The stewardship priorities are described at www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/core-elements/hospital/priorities.html. One of the agency’s top priority approaches is to formalize antimicrobial stewardship responsibilities for hospital staff.