Antimicrobial stewardship refers to coordinated interventions designed to improve and measure the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents by promoting the selection of the optimal antimicrobial drug regimen including dosing, duration of therapy, and route of administration. The major objectives of antimicrobial stewardship are to achieve best clinical outcomes related to antimicrobial use while minimizing toxicity and other adverse events, thereby limiting the selective pressure on bacterial populations that drives the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant strains. Antimicrobial stewardship may also reduce excessive costs attributable to sub-optimal antimicrobial use.
Antibiotic/Antimicrobial resistance is the ability of microbes to resist the effects of drugs – that is, the germs are not killed, and their growth is not stopped.
In an effort to help healthcare practitioners and the community find tools and resources available, PIDS has developed the list of resources below.
Together with PIDS, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) are working to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use, promote development of new antibiotics, and encourage development of standardized antibiotic stewardship programs and practices.
IDSA
Antibiotic Resistance
Promoting Antimicrobial Stewardship in Human Medicine
CDC’s Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work program works to make sure antibiotics are prescribed only when they are needed and used as they should. The Get Smart program focuses on common illnesses that account for most of the antibiotic prescriptions written for children and adults in doctors’ offices and other outpatient settings.
Get Smart for Healthcare is a CDC campaign focused on improving prescribing practices in inpatient healthcare facilities.
The Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs (ASPs) is a document that summarizes the core elements of successful hospital ASPs. It complements existing guidelines on ASPs from organizations including the Infectious Diseases Society of America in conjunction with the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, American Society of Health System Pharmacists, and The Joint Commission.
The Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group (ARLG) has been tasked by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) with prioritizing, designing, implementing and conducting clinical research to address the growing public health threat of antibacterial resistance. The ARLG has identified four high-priority areas of research: infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria, infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention, and diagnostics. The ARLG will be accepting proposals from the scientific community for clinical research that addresses one or more of these high-priority areas.
The Sharing Antimicrobial Reports for Pediatric Stewardship (SHARPS) collaborative focuses on establishing best practices for the use of antimicrobials among hospitalized children. With a philosophy of “all teach, all learn,” they will accomplish their mission to utilize prescribing data to develop interventions that improve the safety of children receiving antimicrobials, improve the clinical outcomes of children, and decrease the rate at which resistance develops.
Health Care Without Harm is an international coalition of hospitals and health care systems, medical professionals, community groups, health-affected constituencies, labor unions, environmental health organizations, and religious groups. “First Do No Harm” … Together with their partners around the world, Health Care Without Harm shares a vision of a health care sector that does no harm, and instead promotes the health of people and the environment.
Pew Charitable Trusts Antibiotic Resistance Program supports policies that will spur the creation of new antibiotics by removing the regulatory, economic, and scientific obstacles that impede antibiotic discovery and development. Establish stewardship programs to ensure that antibiotics are prescribed only when necessary in human health care settings. End the overuse of antibiotics in food animals.
Improving the health of children worldwide through philanthropic support of scientific and educational programs.
