R3 Report Issue 35: New and Revised Requirements for Antibiotic Stewardship
Effective January 1, 2023, new and revised antibiotic stewardship requirements will apply to all Joint Commission–accredited hospitals and critical access hospitals. The 12 elements of performance (EPs) are included in the “Medication Management” (MM) chapter (Standard MM.09.01.01) and expand upon the current expectations for antibiotic stewardship programs in the hospital setting.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are at least 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections each year, and more than 35,000 people die as a result. When Clostridioides difficile (a bacterium that can cause deadly diarrhea and is associated with antibiotic use) is included in the analysis, there are more than 3 million infections and 48,000 deaths. Optimizing the use of antibiotics is a patient safety priority, and antibiotic stewardship programs play a critical role in supporting appropriate antibiotic prescribing practices and reducing antibiotic resistance. As a result, The Joint Commission made several revisions to Standard MM.09.01.01, which include updates to align with federal regulations and current recommendations from scientific and professional organizations.
The prepublication version of the New and Revised Requirements for Antibiotic Stewardship will be available online until December 31, 2022. After January 1, 2023, please access the new requirements in the E-dition or standards manual.