Joint Commission to require antimicrobial stewardship in ambulatory settings

Beginning in January 2020 the Joint Commission will apply new antimicrobial stewardship requirements in ambulatory health care organizations it accredits if they routinely prescribe antimicrobial medications. The updated standards are detailed in a new R³ Report: Antimicrobial Stewardship in Ambulatory Health Care from The Joint Commission. The goal of the requirements is to reduce the misuse of antimicrobial medications, which contributes to antibiotic resistance and adverse drug events. (Joint Commission news release, 6/20/19)