CDC Launches New Electronic Tracking System for Hospital Antibiotics Use

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has launched a new antibiotic tracking system that allows hospitals to monitor antibiotic use electronically, leading to better decisions about how to improve antibiotic use, according to the agency.

The antibiotic use tracking system is part of CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network, the nation’s tool for monitoring infections in health care facilities, including over 4,800 hospitals.

As of mid-November, CDC had funded four health departments and their academic partners to implement the tracking system, called the Medication-Associated Module, in 70 hospitals.

The module enables facilities to report and analyze how frequently antimicrobials are ...