A Call to Action for Connecticut Physicians

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) has issued a call to action to Connecticut physicians, urging a new approach to reducing the number of antibiotic-resistant infections in our state.

National and international experts recognize resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobials as a serious public health threat. CT DPH Commissioner Jewel Mullen, MD urges her fellow physicians to take action and establish effective antimicrobial stewardship programs. In particular, she notes the importance of educating your patients about the importance of judicious appropriate antibiotic use. View the full CT DPH document here: Antimicrobial Stewardship - A Call to Action.

Several actions are recommended as part of a comprehensive stewardship program:

• Talk to patients frankly about the need for antibiotics.


• Refer to evidence-based clinical guidelines before prescribing.


• Talk to colleagues and pharmacists about judicious antibiotic use.


• Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for information and educational resources, including Get Smart (for patients and providers), Antibiotic Resistance Threats Report 2013, and provider toolkits.