Dr. Trivedi
Author – Dr. Trivedi,
California Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Initiative,
California Department of Public Health.
In February 2010, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) launched the country’s first statewide initiative to promote optimization of antimicrobials in healthcare facilities. In less than two years, the cutting-edge California Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) Initiative is helping California healthcare facilities establish programs to improve patient safety and quality.
The Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) Program of CDPH developed the statewide California Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) Initiative as the result of a statutory mandate. California Senate Bill 739 required CDPH to ensure that each general acute care hospital assemble a quality improvement committee to oversee the results of a process for evaluating the judicious use of antibiotics. While hospitals were aware of this mandate, they were left to implement programs on their own. The Initiative offers California healthcare facilities a valuable resource for antimicrobial use education, guidance and consultation.
Current program activities include assessing ASPs in California healthcare facilities, assessing antimicrobial susceptibility patterns throughout California hospitals, providing consultative advice and practical evidence for administrative buy-in, developing regional collaborations, and a focus on special settings such as long-term acute care hospitals and long-term care facilities. The Initiative is developing statewide recommendations for internal and external benchmarking measures for ASPs. Finally, the Initiative is participating in drafting regulations to implement legislation and specify characteristics of ASPs required in California acute care hospitals.
The California ASP Initiative embodies the core functions of public health. The Initiative monitors, detects and investigates antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial utilization, educates clinicians and administrators to adopt ASPs, partners with healthcare facilities and identifies best ASP strategies and practices to share across healthcare systems. The Initiative also interprets laws and regulations to improve public health and patient safety, strives to ensure a minimum performance standard of hospital-based ASPs, evaluates and improves current ASPs, and is researching innovative solutions such as strategies in resource-limited settings.
Given the progress of the California ASP Initiative in such a short period of time, other states should consider establishing statewide resources for antimicrobial use, education, guidance and consultation to assist US healthcare facilities in establishing these patient safety and quality improvement programs.
Some information was missing or invalid. Please see below for details.
Public Comments
Comments listed below are posted by individuals not associated with CDC, unless otherwise stated. These comments do not represent the official views of CDC, and CDC does not guarantee that any information posted by individuals on this blog is correct, and disclaims any liability for any loss or damage resulting from reliance on any such information. Read more about our comment policy ».
April 28, 2012 at 2:31 am ET - Tutto per l' animazione 3d
Great post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m inspired! Extremely helpful information specifically the final phase
I deal with such info much. I was looking for this certain info for a long time. Thank you and good luck.
Link to this comment
November 20, 2011 at 5:54 pm ET - Michael E. Bailey
California has a great antimicrobial program that seems to be working well. And this is being done in one of the worst economic climates in state history. A bad economy does not have to be an excuse for lack of progress and innovation. And as the economy gets better further strides in scientific medical research can be done. The California program is a model for the other states.
Link to this comment