NQF Statement on the CDC’s Vital Signs and the Threat of Superbugs to Hospital Patients 

"U.S. hospitals have made significant progress to prevent healthcare associated infections (HAIs), but more work needs to be done—in particular, to protect patients from antibiotic-resistant bacteria. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends, better and more appropriate use of antibiotics is a critical strategy for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers to prevent HAIs and stop the spread of antibiotic resistance.

An NQF antibiotic stewardship initiative underway will provide concrete strategies to accelerate more effective antibiotic use in acute care hospitals. With key input from national experts and drawing on the experiences and perspectives of many of NQF’s 430 organizational members, NQF’s forthcoming “playbook” will provide important guidance on how to implement the CDC’s Core Elements for improving antibiotic use in hospitals. The playbook suggests an approach that facilities can use to measure the success of antibiotic stewardship programs and calls for the development of resources to support clinicians and patients.”

Helen Burstin, MD, MPH
Chief Scientific Officer
National Quality Forum