6 key facts on antibiotic resistance

Rapidly increasing antibiotic resistance worries researchers spanning the globe as antibiotic-resistant infections impact millions of people every year, according to CDC data.

Here are six key facts:

1. Estimates find such infections cause nearly 2.05 million illnesses every year.

2. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria result in 23,000 deaths annually.

3. CDC estimates find Clostridium difficile contributes to 250,000 illnesses and 14,000 deaths.

4. In March 2017, the World Health Organization compiled a list of antibiotic-resistant pathogens it deemed a priority. WHO named the following three pathogens as the highest priority:
●    Acinetobacter baumannii, carbapenem-resistant
●    Pseudomonas aeruginosa, carbapenem-resistant
●    Enterobacteriaceae, carbapenem-resistant, ESBL-producing

5. Overprescribing antibiotics is a major concern to medical professionals as this practice drives the growing number of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. The American Psychological Association published two studies finding physicians are more prone to prescribe antibiotics if a patient has high expectations

6. Jeffrey A. Linder, MD, associate professor of medicine in the general internal medicine division at Boston-based Brigham and Women's Hospital, gave the following strategies to limit antibiotic prescribing:
●    Put up information which give staff members information about antibiotics' side effects and why they may not be effective when fighting viral infections
●    Peer comparison
●    Have alerts on EHR systems if a provider tries to order an antibiotic not typically indicated for that diagnosis
●    Have providers justify their order for antibiotics

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