Toolkit

Core element 5: Tracking

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Adapted from the CDC. Page last reviewed: March 24, 2023 

Tracking is crucial to identify opportunities for improvement and to assess the impact of interventions. Measuring antimicrobial stewardship program interventions may involve evaluating both outcome and process measures.

Outcome measures

• Antibiotic use measures

• Hospitals should monitor and benchmark antibiotic use by reporting to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Antimicrobial Use (AU) option
• Please review suggested materials provided by the CDC for additional resources on NHSN reporting

• Outcome use measures

• C. difficile infections
• Antibiotic resistance

• Financial impact

Process measures for quality improvement 

Process measures focus on the specific interventions that are being implemented at the facility. These may include:

• Tracking the types and acceptance of recommendations during prospective audit and feedback interventions
• Monitoring preauthorization interventions by tracking the agents that are being requested

• Monitoring adherence to facility-specific treatment guidelines
• Assessing discharge antimicrobial prescriptions and duration of therapy