bioMérieux and Henry Ford Health Establish Global Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence

SALT LAKE CITY and DETROIT (Dec. 14, 2022)  – Henry Ford Health, a leading academic medical center, has been named a Global Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence by bioMérieux, a world leader in in vitro diagnostics. The designation acknowledges the Detroit-based healthcare system’s achievements and continued excellence in managing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and advancing antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) initiatives.

As a Global Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence, Henry Ford Health is a partner of choice for bioMérieux. Henry Ford Health and bioMérieux will leverage one another’s expertise to create and scale innovative best practices and game-changing diagnostic technology, fight against transmission of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) and help curb the dangers associated with antibiotic resistance.

"Antimicrobial resistance continues to be one of the greatest challenges facing the healthcare community,” said Linoj Samuel, PhD, D (ABMM), Division Head Microbiology. “It is critical that we continue to develop the tools to detect resistant pathogens with accuracy and in a timely manner. We are excited to continue in this journey with bioMérieux with the shared goal of leveraging novel technology to improve patient outcomes."

In the U.S., more than 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections occur each year. More than 35,000 people die as a result, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2019 Antibiotic Resistance (AR) Threats Report. Optimizing the use of antibiotics is critical to effectively treat infections, protect patients from harms caused by unnecessary antibiotic use and combat antibiotic resistance. 

Scientists in the microbiology lab at Henry Ford Hospital use bioMérieux’s comprehensive range of testing solutions to provide clinicians and pharmacists with timely diagnostic insights to support patient therapy and stewardship intervention.

“We are pleased to formally partner with bioMérieux as their current and pipeline solutions align with the complex medical care for which Henry Ford Health is renown,” said John Waugh, System Vice President of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.

"bioMerieux has a longstanding and collaborative relationship with Henry Ford Health and we share the commitment to ensuring optimal use of infectious disease diagnostic testing and technology to drive better patient outcomes,” said Jennifer Zinn, President of North American Clinical Operations at bioMérieux. “We are pleased to accelerate the impact we can have on improving public health through our partnership."

Henry Ford Health is now one of just two health systems in North America with the Global Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence designation. bioMérieux has also recognized hospitals in Tampa, Florida, India, France, Morocco, Malaysia, Chile, Colombia, and China as Global AMS Centers of Excellence.

ABOUT GLOBAL ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE

In 2022, bioMérieux established the AMS Centers of Excellence program to bring attention to the threat of antimicrobial resistance and to accelerate the impact that infectious diseases diagnostics have in facilitating antimicrobial stewardship and better patient care. bioMérieux has formalized partnerships with nearly 10 hospitals globally, including sites in the United States, India, China, Malaysia, Morocco, France, Colombia, and Chile. These sites are leaders in their countries and regions in regards to integrating diagnostics into AMS. The partnerships will focus on generating and showcasing real-world medical and economic data and best practices about the value of combining diagnostics, medical education, lab consultancy services, and information technology solutions.

ABOUT BIOMÉRIEUX
Pioneering Diagnostics

A world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics since 1963, bioMérieux is present in 45 countries and serves more than 160 countries with the support of a large network of distributors. In 2021, revenues reached €3.4 billion, with over 90% of sales outside of France. bioMérieux provides diagnostic solutions (systems, reagents, software and services) which determine the source of disease and contamination to improve patient health and ensure consumer safety. Its products are mainly used for diagnosing infectious diseases. They are also used for detecting microorganisms in agri-food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.

ABOUT HENRY FORD HEALTH
Serving communities across Michigan and beyond, Henry Ford Health is committed to partnering with patients and members along their entire health journey. Henry Ford Health provides a full continuum of services – from primary and preventative care, to complex and specialty care, health insurance, a full suite of home health offerings, virtual care, pharmacy, eye care and other healthcare retail.

It is one of the nation's leading academic medical centers, recognized for clinical excellence in cancer care, cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics and sports medicine, and multi-organ transplants. Consistently ranked among the top five NIH-funded institutions in Michigan, Henry Ford Health engages in more than 2,000 research projects annually. Equally committed to educating the next generation of health professionals, Henry Ford Health trains more than 4,000 medical students, residents and fellows every year across 50+ accredited programs. 

With more than 33,000 valued team members, Henry Ford Health is also among Michigan's largest and most diverse employers, including nearly 6,000 physicians and researchers from the Henry Ford Medical Group, Henry Ford Physician Network and Jackson Health Network.

The health system is led by President and CEO Robert G. Riney and serves a growing number of customers across 250+ locations throughout Michigan including five acute care hospitals, two destination facilities for complex cancer and orthopedics and sports medicine care, three behavioral health facilities, primary care and urgent care centers.

Contacts

Media Relations

bioMérieux

Liza Deckelbaum
Tel.:919.645.0782
lizad@seeztoday.com

Media Relations

Henry Ford Health

Dana Jay
Tel.:313-437-2062
djay2@hfhs.org