CDC Steps Up Efforts vs. Resistant Bacteria

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will increase its efforts to reduce excess use of antibiotics and the spread of bacteria that resist these drugs. The White House announced the effort March 27. The goal is to reduce infections with some of the most dangerous drug-resistant bacteria by 50% to 60% by 2020. The Medicare and Medicaid programs already have told hospitals to reduce excess use of antibiotics. They must develop these programs within 3 years or lose funding. The CDC will provide funds to help more states collect data on antibiotic-resistant infections. It also will encourage hospitals and health systems to send data on patterns of antibiotic use. The CDC now is supporting hospital pilot programs to improve prevention of infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. A program in Chicago cut one type of infection in half.