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IDSA names Tufts Medical Center Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence

08/16/2018
Center of Excellence logoThe Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has designated Tufts Medical Center as an Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence (CoE), one of just 25 centers nationally to receive the honor. The newly-launched CoE program recognizes institutions that achieve standards established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for antimicrobial stewardship programs led by Infectious Disease physicians and ID-trained pharmacists.

“We are proud to have our Tufts Medical Center Experts in Antimicrobial Management (TEAM) program recognized as a leader in antimicrobial stewardship,” said Associate Hospital Epidemiologist and Antimicrobial Steward Shira Doron, MD. “Antibiotic stewardship programs have been proven to decrease the development of antibiotic resistance, reduce  C. difficile infection rates, improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.”

Evaluation criteria

Built upon the criteria detailed in the CDC’s Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs, the criteria for the IDSA Antimicrobial Stewardship Centers of Excellence were developed by a workgroup of infectious diseases physicians and ID-trained pharmacists. 

The CoE designation emphasizes the institution’s ability to implement stewardship protocols, conduct ongoing staff education and establish procedures that lead to effectively optimized antimicrobial use. Tufts Medical Center’s Antimicrobial Stewardship Program includes robust educational activities, an institution-specific “Antimicrobial Treatment and Dosing Guide,” ongoing research activities and nationally recognized faculty.

“The CoE program’s goal is to recognize individuals and organizations that have achieved high standards in their stewardship programs,” explained Dr. Doron. “The TEAM program has consistently performed better than national benchmarks in our antimicrobial utilization.”

Unique antimicrobial stewardship services offered at Tufts MC

In addition to its program within the Medical Center, the Tufts Medical Center Experts in Antimicrobial Management (TEAM) work with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support long term care facilities in their efforts to implement and improve upon their antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention programs. For those facilities looking for more hands-on assistance, the Tufts Medical Center Experts in Antimicrobial Management (TEAM) provide a consultative service customized to an institution’s needs.

“We serve as an expert resource to other programs trying to establish themselves,” said Dr. Doron. “Tufts Medical Center is proud to be recognized nationally for our efforts through the CoE designation, and we can help others to achieve similar success.”

Additional information is available at www.idsociety.org/ascoe and www.tuftsmedicalcenter.org/team.