UTMC Recognized for Efforts to Prevent Antimicrobial Resistance

UTMC Recognized for Efforts to Prevent Antimicrobial Resistance

The University of Toledo Medical Center has received the Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence designation from the Infectious Diseases Society of America, recognizing UTMC's commitment to combatting antimicrobial resistance.

UTMC is the only hospital in Toledo to be recognized with the prestigious designation and one of fewer than 200 facilities nationwide.

Antimicrobial resistance - driven in part by the overuse of antibiotics - is a significant public health concern as infections become more difficult to treat.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates more than 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections occur in the United States each year, resulting in more than 35,000 annual deaths.

"It's critical to emphasize the judicious use of antimicrobial therapy in both the inpatient and outpatient settings now more than ever. Many key antibiotics have lost their effectiveness over time due to prolonged exposure or inappropriate use," said Matt Rico, an antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist at UToledo. "This recognition demonstrates our commitment to improving patient care, ensuring we're using antimicrobial agents appropriately and doing our part to minimize the spread of antimicrobial resistant pathogens"

To be recognized as an Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence, healthcare facilities must have created stewardship programs led by infectious diseases-trained physicians and pharmacists that advance science in antimicrobial resistance, and achieved standards aligned with evidence-based national guidelines.