Antimicrobial Resistance: An Antimicrobial/Diagnostic Stewardship and Infection Prevention Approach

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AR) is one of the most serious public health threats today, which has been accelerated by the overuse and misuse of antimicrobials in humans and animals plus inadequate infection prevention. Numerous studies have shown a relationship between antimicrobial use and resistance. Antimicrobial stewardship (AS) programs have been shown to improve patient outcomes, reduce antimicrobial adverse events, and decrease AR. AS programs, when implemented alongside infection control measures, especially hand-hygiene interventions, were more effective than implementation of AS alone. Targeted coordination and prevention strategies are critical to stopping the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms.

Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; Antimicrobial stewardship; Audit and feedback; De-escalation; Diagnostic stewardship.