The Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) Program priorities are to detect, investigate, and respond to antimicrobial resistant threats and reduce the risk of infections for individuals receiving healthcare in Idaho. Promoting stewardship and appropriate antibiotic use can improve patient outcomes and slow resistance across the spectrum of care.
Antimicrobial Stewardship
Antimicrobial stewardship (AS) is the effort to measure and improve how antibiotics are prescribed by clinicians and used by patients. Improving antibiotic prescribing and use is critical to effectively treat infections, protect patients from harms caused by unnecessary antibiotic use, and combat antibiotic resistance.
Antimicrobial Resistance
Antimicrobial Resistance (AR) happens when germs like bacteria and fungi develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them. This means the germs are not killed and continue to grow and multiply. AR has the potential to affect people at any stage of life, as well as the healthcare, veterinary, and agriculture industries. This makes it one of the world’s most urgent public health problems. If antibiotics lose their effectiveness, it becomes difficult to treat infections and control these public health threats.
- Provide technical assistance
- Prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant organisms
- Provide support to healthcare personnel experiencing clusters/outbreaks
- Promote Antimicrobial Stewardship (AS) to prevent or minimize antibiotic resistance
- Provide education and workforce training opportunities