Antibiotic stewardship through the EU project "ABS International"

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health threat.
• Effective antibiotic stewardship (ABS) programs are crucial for combating AMR.
• Previous efforts have focused on hospital settings, highlighting a need for broader implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate antibiotic stewardship strategies across multiple European Union member states.
• To develop standardized ABS tools and training programs for healthcare professionals.
• To assess the feasibility and impact of ABS implementation in diverse healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• Development of a comprehensive training program for national ABS trainers.
• Creation of standardized ABS tools, including antibiotic lists, treatment guidelines, and organizational templates.
• Implementation of ABS tools in up to five healthcare facilities per participating country.
• Establishment of process measures and quality indicators for monitoring antibiotic use.

Main Results:

• Successful development and dissemination of training programs and standardized ABS tools.
• Initiation of ABS tool implementation in numerous healthcare facilities across nine EU countries.
• Establishment of a framework for measuring the quality of antibiotic use.

Conclusions:

• The ABS International project provides a scalable model for implementing antibiotic stewardship in hospitals.
• Future antimicrobial stewardship initiatives must extend to public education and primary care settings.
• Continued efforts in ABS are essential to mitigate the threat of antimicrobial resistance.