Antimicrobial Resistance and Antimicrobial Stewardship in Home Healthcare

Antimicrobial resistance, the ability of microbes to become resistant to known antimicrobial medications, is a growing and serious global health concern. There are growing numbers of publications about efforts to educate nurses about antimicrobial resistance, and efforts to involve nurses in antimicrobial stewardship in acute and long-term care settings; however, this has not been the case in home care. Home care organizations are required to address infection control and surveillance, including patient, family, and staff education. Home care nurses play an important role in identifying infections, performing cultures, and teaching patients and families. This article provides an overview of antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial stewardship and provides antimicrobial stewardship actions for home care nurses and agencies. In the interest of public health, home care agencies and nurses can, and should, educate themselves and patients about antimicrobial resistance and employ antimicrobial stewardship strategies.