PROVIDENCE – Based on their efforts to limit the overuse of antibiotics and deter antimicrobial resistance, Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital have earned recognition from the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
Both facilities are designated Antimicrobial Stewardship Centers of Excellence.
The hospitals have operated antimicrobial stewardship programs since 2014, and are among 145 facilities worldwide to have received the designation since its 2017 launch.
“Antimicrobial resistance is one of the greatest public health threats we face. Antibiotics are amazing and life-saving drugs, but if used improperly or when not needed, bacteria can develop ways to make our antibiotics ineffective. If we use our antibiotics judiciously, then we will be able to preserve these precious medications so they will be effective when needed,” said Dr. Cheston B. Cunha, medical director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs at Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital.
Each hospital coordinates its pharmacy, microbiology and infection control departments, along with others, to monitor and improve the use of antibiotics. As part of the antimicrobial stewardship program, the use of antibiotics is reviewed and recommendations are sent to medical teams caring for patients.
In 2018, Lifespan received a $9.4 million National Institutes of Health grant to establish a Center for Biomedical Research Excellence for Antimicrobial Resistance and Therapeutic Discovery.
Researchers at the center study antibiotic resistance and new drugs with the potential to replace antibiotics.
Elizabeth Graham is a PBN contributing writer.
