Antimicrobial Stewardship for the Infection Control Professional: Mutual Collaboration for Mutual Benefit

This article emphasizes the global threat of antimicrobial resistance, highlighting its origins, mechanisms, and widespread impact on patient care and public health. It discusses the consequences of suboptimal antibiotic use, including increased infections, resistance, and adverse effects like Clostridioides difficile. The importance of antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention programs working collaboratively to optimize antibiotic prescribing, reduce unnecessary use, and implement diagnostic stewardship strategies is underscored. Key approaches include shortening therapy durations, transitioning to oral antibiotics, and improving diagnostic accuracy. Coordinated efforts in stewardship and infection control are vital to combating antimicrobial resistance, improving patient outcomes, and safeguarding future antimicrobial efficacy.