The CDC would like to see every hospital in the country develop a strong antibiotic stewardship program, because "the challenge with antibiotic resistance can’t be overstated," he cautioned.
A patient advocate echoed that concern at the media briefing.
"While inwardly I breathe a small sigh of relief that annual infections and mortalities are diminishing, I remain extremely cautious regarding the growing threat of antibiotic resistance and the dire impact of this potential danger to American health care," said Victoria Nahum, executive director of the Safe Care Campaign. Ms. Nahum and her husband, Armando Nahum, founded the nonprofit organization after their son died of a health care–associated infection and two other family members developed complications from health care–associated infections.
Health care providers "have the power to prevent health care–associated infections" through compulsive hand hygiene and other best practices, Ms. Nahum said. Patients need to be more assertive, she added. "You just don’t flop down and say, ‘Take care of me.’ You have to kind of navigate what’s going to happen to you. In doing so, that can save your own life."
Dr. Bell suggested that hospitalized patients have a friend or family member be the "bad cop" and repeatedly ask caregivers if they have washed their hands, when urinary catheters can come out, and whether testing is being done to ensure that the right antibiotic is being used.
He said he knows that can be difficult for patients who may feel intimidated. "When my own mother was in the intensive care unit, I found it hard to pipe up," Dr. Bell said. "If I find it hard, I can’t imagine what it’s like for everybody else."
Dr. Magill reported no potential financial conflicts of interest; two of her associates reported ties to the Infectious Disease Consulting Corp. and Parexel.