Infectious Disease Experts Promote Effective Antibiotic Use to Combat Drug-Resistant Bacteria
Today, and every day, 63 people will die from antibiotic-resistant infections in the United States alone, according to recent estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To help reverse this alarming trend, healthcare professionals are gathering here to further national and hospital-based research to improve the use and effectiveness of antibiotics. The two-day meeting is hosted by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA).
“The ability to treat infections successfully with antibiotics is hampered by bacterial resistance, due to their overuse and misuse,” said Elizabeth Dodds-Ashley, PharmD, MHS, co-chair of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Research Workshop. “Well-documented and properly coordinated strategies, such as stewardship of antibiotics, can work to reverse the highly dangerous trend of antibiotic resistance around the world.”
The meeting will build a network of healthcare professionals with the knowledge and understanding of research methods to design, implement, disseminate, and assess projects related to antimicrobial stewardship. Stewardship programs and interventions help ensure that patients get the right antibiotics at the right time for the right duration. In addition to improving patient care, there is also potential for cost-saving. Research into the full potential of antibiotic stewardship is critical to continue to make progress on creating and implementing strong, effective programs.
“All healthcare facilities can improve patient outcomes and antibiotic resistance trends by focusing on efforts to eliminate unnecessary antibiotic therapies and raising patients' understanding of this issue,” said Jeffrey S. Gerber, MD, PhD, co-chair of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Research Workshop. “To effectively manage this risk, healthcare facilities must implement stewardship programs and strategies to help ensure the appropriate use of these life-saving drugs.”
SHEA is co-organizing the Antimicrobial Stewardship Research Workshop on November 29-30 along with the Infectious Disease Society of America, the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society, and the Society of Infectious Disease Pharmacists. The meeting helps fulfill a national need for increased awareness and science based knowledge about the use of antimicrobial stewardship strategies throughout healthcare.
With this educational program, SHEA seeks to engage those interested in antimicrobial stewardship research and set the agenda for the national strategy for strengthening healthcare stewardship.
More information is available online at http://www.asresearchworkshop.org/. The meeting is supported by an unrestricted grant from Merck & Co. to fund the educational development and execution of this critical workshop.
Source: SHEA
Newsletter
Stay prepared and protected with Infection Control Today's newsletter, delivering essential updates, best practices, and expert insights for infection preventionists.
Reducing Hidden Risks: Why Sharps Injuries Still Go Unreported
July 18th 2025Despite being a well-known occupational hazard, sharps injuries continue to occur in health care facilities and are often underreported, underestimated, and inadequately addressed. A recent interview with sharps safety advocate Amanda Heitman, BSN, RN, CNOR, a perioperative educational consultant, reveals why change is overdue and what new tools and guidance can help.
New Study Explores Oral Vancomycin to Prevent C difficile Recurrence, But Questions Remain
July 17th 2025A new clinical trial explores the use of low-dose oral vancomycin to prevent Clostridioides difficile recurrence in high-risk patients taking antibiotics. While the data suggest a possible benefit, the findings stop short of statistical significance and raise red flags about vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), underscoring the delicate balance between prevention and antimicrobial stewardship.
What Lies Beneath: Why Borescopes Are Essential for Verifying Surgical Instrument Cleanliness
July 16th 2025Despite their smooth, polished exteriors, surgical instruments often harbor dangerous contaminants deep inside their lumens. At the HSPA25 and APIC25 conferences, Cori L. Ofstead, MSPH, and her colleagues revealed why borescopes are an indispensable tool for sterile processing teams, offering the only reliable way to verify internal cleanliness and improve sterile processing effectiveness to prevent patient harm.
The Next Frontier in Infection Control: AI-Driven Operating Rooms
Published: July 15th 2025 | Updated: July 15th 2025Discover how AI-powered sensors, smart surveillance, and advanced analytics are revolutionizing infection prevention in the OR. Herman DeBoard, PhD, discusses how these technologies safeguard sterile fields, reduce SSIs, and help hospitals balance operational efficiency with patient safety.
Targeting Uncertainty: Why Pregnancy May Be the Best Time to Build Vaccine Confidence
July 15th 2025New national survey data reveal high uncertainty among pregnant individuals—especially first-time parents—about vaccinating their future children, underscoring the value of proactive engagement to strengthen infection prevention.
