CDC sounds alarm on hospital antibiotic use

Dr. Franklin A. Michota

The CDC is calling on all hospitals to implement a stewardship program to improve antibiotic prescribing. As leaders in hospital quality and change, hospitalists should embrace this challenge. Change in hospital process is never easy, but hospitalists have a unique opportunity to partner with their local colleagues and develop care pathways using the best scientific evidence. Also, hospitalists have the experience and skill set necessary to create multidisciplinary improvement teams along with the measurement and reporting systems required for real improvement. It’s time for hospitalists to roll up their sleeves and get to work.

Dr. Franklin A. Michota is director of academic affairs, department of hospital medicine, Cleveland Clinic. He reports having no disclosures.