Antimicrobial stewardship in hospitals: Does it work and can we do it?

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance is a major global health threat, primarily driven by antimicrobial use.
• Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs are crucial for optimizing antimicrobial prescribing and reducing resistance.
• Despite proven benefits, AMS implementation faces resource limitations in many regions.

Conclusions:

• Antimicrobial stewardship is essential for combating antimicrobial resistance and improving healthcare outcomes.
• Despite resource challenges, initiating or enhancing AMS programs is feasible by adapting interventions to available resources.
• A range of interventions, from drug class supervision to decision support systems, can be effectively employed in AMS initiatives.