The initial webinar is part of a larger NQP goal to ensure appropriate antibiotic use through quality measurement and improvement. Arjun Srinivasan, MD, associate director for healthcare associated infection prevention programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, presented and discussed the need for a national program that defines best practices and benchmarks for antibiotic stewardship. Describing antibiotic misuse as a “global healthcare problem” not limited to hospitals or inpatient settings, Srinivasan said that better measures are needed for prescribing antibiotics for certain conditions.

More than 150 NQF Members, including infectious disease experts, physicians, pharmacists, quality experts, and other healthcare stakeholders from the public and private sectors, joined the nearly two-hour long discussion on how best to encourage more uniformity to antibiotic stewardship across healthcare settings. The event follows President Obama’s recent Executive Order and the release of a National Action Plan For Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in March 2015. The plan focuses on slowing the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria and infections and strengthening antibiotic stewardship in inpatient, outpatient, and long-term care settings. NQF has committed its support to the White House’s antibiotic resistance initiative and participated in the Administration’s June 2 forum on the issue.

The antibiotic stewardship webinar was the first in a series of NQF quarterly events on this topic organized by NQP—an initiative to galvanize action among NQF’s Member organizations around topics of national importance. This year, NQP will focus on antibiotic stewardship and advanced illness care, the two topics selected as priority issues by attendees of NQF’s 2015 Annual Conference.

To get involved, or to sponsor a specific action team project, please contact Wendy Prins, NQF’s vice president, National Quality Partners.