In order to improve health care providers’ understanding on the threats of antibiotic resistance and the role of antibiotic stewardship program in combating these threats, CDC launched the first of a 4-part web-based series on antibiotic stewardship training.

In this first part of the self-paced, knowledge-based training program (course number WB2968), health care providers are introduced to the following concepts in 3 modules:

• Module 1: Antibiotic resistance threats and combating the spread of antibiotic resistance
• Module 2: What is an antimicrobial stewardship program and why it is needed
• Module 3: Adverse events associated with antibiotic use is a patient safety issue

While this training course is primarily geared toward antibiotic prescribers, CDC welcome participation from other health care professionals including nurses, pharmacists, and public health practitioners.

Health care professionals who complete this first part of the training series can earn 2.75 CME, 2.5 CNE, 0.285 CPE, 0.3 CEU, or 2.5 CHES free of charge.  To receive continuing education (CE) credits after completion of the training course, participants must register for the CE at the CDC Training and Continuing Education website.

In additional, completion of the course fulfills two Improvement Activities under Patient Safety & Practice Assessment subcategory of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Merit-Based Incentive Programs or MIPS*.  These 2 activities are:

• IA_PSPA_23: completion of CDC training on antibiotic stewardship
• IA_PSPA_24: initiate CDC training on antibiotic stewardship

To learn more about this course, visit the CDC Antibiotic Use Website.  To register for the course, please visit and create an account at CDC Train.

*MIPS is a payment mechanism through the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services based on performance in quality, resource use, clinical practice improvement activities, and meaningful use of an electronic health record system.

Written by Phil Chung, PharmD, MS, BCPS