SPECIAL SESSION: The Cost of Antibiotic Resistance: Hospitals and Patients in Peril

Description/Overview: This presentation will describe the background and rationale of efforts worldwide to reduce antimicrobial resistance for patients in hospitals. The presentations will describe the "cost" of antibiotic resistance and healthcare associated infections from MDROs in both clinical and financial terms. Several concepts will be integrated including the critical role of leadership in the success of these efforts, practical and helpful approaches to achieving a decrease in AB resistance, including reducing healthcare-associated infections and their transmission in the healthcare setting, antibiotic stewardship programs, surveillance and analysis of MDRO data, and other topics. Tools for leaders and their staff will be presented.