CDC urges nursing homes to curb antibiotics to fight ‘superbugs’

Federal health officials are urging nursing homes to step up their oversight of antibiotic use to prevent outbreaks of “superbugs” that are on the rise nationally (Source: “CDC urges nursing homes to step up ‘superbug’ prevention,” The Hill,  Sept. 15, 2015). 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new recommendations Tuesday aiming to crack down on the improper use of the medications, which can spur antibiotic-resistance illnesses known as “superbugs.”

The CDC says it is specifically focusing on nursing homes because of the prevalence of antibiotics there: About 70 percent of the 4 million people living in nursing homes received at least one antibiotic prescription each year.

Between one-third and one-half of antibiotic prescriptions were unnecessary or inappropriate, according to a recent study that has raised alarms within the CDC.