About the Campaign

Background

Each year, over 10 million courses of antibiotics are inappropriately prescribed for viral infections in the outpatient setting.¹ Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing drives the evolution of bacteria resistant to antibiotics and undermines the ability to treat common infectious diseases.

The Illinois Department of Public Health has initiated the Precious Drugs & Scary Bugs Campaign to:

Promote the appropriate use of antibiotics
Increase healthcare provider and patient knowledge related to antibiotic resistance and appropriate antibiotic use
Provide resources to support clinicians in improving antibiotic prescribing, particularly for acute respiratory infections (ARI)

The campaign currently targets primary care providers. Providers are asked to sign up for the campaign which involves taking the following actions:

Complete a brief baseline and follow-up survey
Make a public pledge to prescribe antibiotics judiciously by utilizing a public commitment poster that provided by the campaign
Participate in educational webinars as relevant

* As a key part of facility quality improvement efforts and to support campaign evaluation, participating facilities are encouraged to track provider antibiotic prescribing for ARI visits.

This campaign supports the National Action Plan to Combat Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria which aims to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use by 50% in outpatient settings by 2020.

¹ http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/community/programs-measurement/national-activities/antibiotics-work.html

Participating Providers

As of July 1, 2015.

A to Z Pediatrics
- Addison, IL
- Brookfield, IL
Amita Health Medical Group - Alexian Brothers Health System
- Addison
- Arlington Heights
- Arlington Heights/Rolling Meadows
- Barrington
- Bartlett
- Elgin
- Elk Grove Internal Medicine
- Elk Grove Village
- Golf & Higgins
- Hanover Park
- Hoffman Estates
- Itasca
- Mt. Prospect
- Old Town
- Older Adult Health Care
- Palatine
- St. Alexius Medical Center
- Streamwood
Community Health Improvement Center, Decatur, IL
Heartland Health Outreach, Chicago, IL
OSF Medical Group
- Belvidere Prompt Care
- Belvidere Primary Care
- Byron
- Cherry Valley
- Guilford Square Primary Care
- Infectious Disease
- Marengo
- OB/Gyn Garrett Lane
- Poplar Grove
- Rock Cut Pediatrics
- Rock Cut Primary Care
- Rock Cut Prompt Care
- Rockton/Roscoe
- Roxbury
- Spring Creek
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
- Carbondale
- Decatur
- Quincy