National Ambulatory Antibiotic Stewardship Program Offers Hope in Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance

A new program to ensure antibiotics are used properly, funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), was associated with declines in antibiotic prescribing in ambulatory clinics even in the face of COVID-19 related disruptions, according to results presented at IDWeek.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine and the NORC at the University of Chicago worked with national experts to create and implement the AHRQ Safety Program for Improving Antibiotic Use. In total, 389 ambulatory practices completed the program nationwide. The program found that total antibiotic prescribing fell significantly, declining by 9 prescriptions per 100 visits, and acute respiratory infection-related antibiotic prescriptions decreased by 15 per100 visits by program end.