Texas Children's Hospital Named Center of Excellence in Antimicrobial Stewardship by bioMérieux

HOUSTON (November 6, 2023) – Texas Children’s Hospital is thrilled to announce that it has been named a Center of Excellence in antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) by bioMerieux, a world leader in in vitro diagnostics. Texas Children’s will be one of three Centers of Excellence in the U.S. and the only one that serves primarily pediatric patients.  

“We are thrilled to collaborate with bioMerieux to establish the third Center of Excellence in the United States,” said Dr. James Versalovic, Pathologist-in-Chief at Texas Children’s Hospital and Director of Texas Children’s Microbiome Center and a Milton J. Finegold Professor and Vice Chair, Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine. Globally, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a significant and increasing threat, and Texas Children’s is proud to join forces with bioMerieux to advance the fight against AMR.”

Texas Children’s and bioMérieux will work together to further activate specific AMS initiatives that will improve patient care, while leveraging shared expertise to develop and scale innovative best practices based on the application of game-changing diagnostic technology. The collaboration aims to curb the dangers associated with AMR, such as the transmission of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs).

AMR is a major concern for pediatricians globally. Because children have weaker immune systems, this particular group is more vulnerable to infections and diseases. To combat AMR among younger populations, a holistic focus on AMS in pediatrics is essential.

The increasing and inappropriate use of antibiotic treatment for both human and animal medicine is fueling the spread of resistant bacteria around the world. Common infectious diseases are becoming more and more difficult to treat, which is a major cause for concern for the entire healthcare community. By ensuring that patients get the right drug, at the right dose, at the right time, antimicrobial stewardship is key to fighting resistance and to sustaining antibiotic efficacy for future generations.

“By collaborating with bioMérieux, we can deliver diagnostic-driven insights that directly impact patient therapy and accelerate our stewardship program impact,” said Dr. Versalovic. “Our teams work diligently to engage all Texas Children’s stakeholders in our AMS initiatives. We want to set the best possible example for other health systems that might be figuring out how to get started or overcome barriers. Together, we can all make a difference in the fight against AMR.”

Learn more about Texas Children’s Division of Laboratory Medicine.
 

About Texas Children’s
Texas Children’s, a nonprofit health care organization, is committed to creating a healthier future for children and women throughout the global community by leading in patient care, education and research. Consistently ranked as the best children’s hospital in Texas and among the top in the nation, Texas Children’s has garnered widespread recognition for its expertise and breakthroughs in pediatric and women’s health. The system includes the Texas Children’s Duncan NRI; the Feigin Tower for pediatric research; Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston; and Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, the first hospital devoted to children’s care for communities north of Houston. The organization also created Texas Children’s Health Plan, the nation’s first HMO for children; Texas Children’s Pediatrics, the largest pediatric primary care network in the country; Texas Children’s Urgent Care clinics that specialize in after-hours care tailored specifically for children; and a global health program that s channeling care to children and women all over the world. Texas Children’s Hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine. For more information, visit www.texaschildrens.org.