Antimicrobial Stewardship at Mercy San Juan Medical Center

Dignity Health Mercy San Juan Medical Center’s Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) was formally established in 2009 as part of the growing concern around antibiotic resistance. The CDC considers antibiotic resistance to be "an urgent global public health threat" associated with nearly 5 million deaths in 2019. Our program is dedicated to using antibiotics in the most efficacious manner so that the impact on infections is maximized while minimizing patient harm and antimicrobial resistance.  We are dedicated to educating our staff, providers, and patients on how to best use antibiotics ensuring that we will continue to have the power of antibiotics for years to come.

In 2020, Mercy San Juan Medical Center ASP was awarded Silver status by the California Department of Public Health's (CDPH) Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Program.  The CDPH's ASP Honor Roll goals are to promote optimal use of antimicrobials and prevent emergence of antimicrobial resistance and C. difficile infections.  In addition, the designation demonstrates that Mercy San Juan Medical Center’s ASP meets and exceeds national guidelines and demonstrates collaboration with the local healthcare entities to improve antimicrobial stewardship in the community. Additional information can be found about the CSPH ASP Honor Roll here.

In 2021, Mercy San Juan Medical Center was designated as an ASP Center of Excellence by the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA), joining a total of 131 institutions to receive the honor.  The award is bestowed upon facilities that serve as the gold standard in executing ASP principles and standards.