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A Public Health Approach to Antimicrobial Stewardship in Long-term Care Facilities: A Multifaceted Program in Massachusetts

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Benchmarking is an effective strategy to improve antibiotic use but remains underutilized in long-term care (LTC). In 2018, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, in partnership with Tufts Medical Center, launched the Antibiotic Start (AS) Reporting Program, a statewide initiative to monitor and improve antibiotic prescribing in LTC facilities through monthly reporting and feedback, alongside other stewardship interventions. METHODS: Long-term care facilities voluntarily submitted monthly AS data through an online platform. AS rates were calculated as AS per 1000 resident-days. Quarterly benchmarking reports and educational activities (introduced in 2022), including LTC office hours webinars, were conducted to support interpretation and engagement. We conducted an interrupted time-series (ITS) analysis to assess changes in beta-lactam and fluoroquinolone prescribing from 2018 to 2024 and a stratified analysis comparing AS rates between facilities with and without honor roll recognition. RESULTS: A total of 217 LTC facilities submitted ≥1 month of AS data. The overall AS rate increased by 7%, from 7.22 to 7.70 per 1000 resident-days. Fluoroquinolone starts decreased by 36%, while beta-lactam starts increased by 26%. Interrupted time series analysis showed a significant rise in beta-lactam use following the October 2022 expansion of benchmarking reports and LTC office hours (P < .001). A subgroup analysis showed higher total and beta-lactam AS rates among honor roll facilities compared with nonrecognized facilities. CONCLUSIONS: The Massachusetts AS Reporting Program demonstrates that sustained, data-driven public health-academic collaboration can advance antimicrobial stewardship in LTC. By combining benchmarking, feedback, education, and recognition, public health agencies can support stewardship engagement and promote sustainable improvement in antibiotic use across resource-limited settings.

Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases

DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciag092