A new “R3 Report” released by The Joint Commission addresses the correct use of antimicrobial medications to help combat resistance. It focuses on The Joint Commission’s new antimicrobial stewardship standard for accredited critical access hospitals, hospitals, and nursing care centers.
According to a press release from The Joint Commission, the R3 Report provides a more in-depth rationale and evidence for the new standard that goes into effect on January 1, 2017. According to information cited in the report, resistance to antimicrobial medications threatens the effective prevention and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi.
The standard was developed to promote patient safety and quality of care, as well as to align critical-access hospital, hospital and nursing care center accreditation programs with current recommendations from professional and scientific organizations. The Joint Commission also plans to develop an antimicrobial stewardship standard for ambulatory and office-based surgery.
“This standard is based on current scientific literature and addresses the growing threat of antimicrobial-resistant organisms. It provides direction to hospital and nursing care center settings through requiring an antimicrobial stewardship program,” said Kelly Podgorny, DNP, CPHQ, RN, project director, Division of Healthcare Quality Evaluation, The Joint Commission.
Antimicrobial/antibiotic stewardship is a proven method for improving the correct use of medications that treat infections, according to scientific and professional organizations. When implemented with organizational support, antimicrobial stewardship programs can help decrease the progression of antimicrobial resistance and improve how antimicrobials are used and prescribed.
The R3 Report is a periodic publication of The Joint Commission that provides details on the research and reference sources that informed the development of a standard.
