A Review on Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs in Multiple Care Settings

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance is a global problem that is regarded as one of the most important threats to human health. Misuse of antibiotics leads to an increase in antibiotic resistance as well as higher healthcare costs. Antimicrobial stewardship is a coordinated, multidisciplinary program aimed at improving antimicrobial prescribing to enhance treatment outcomes while reducing unpredictable consequences of antimicrobial use, such as toxicity, pathogenic organism selection, and resistance emergence. Each hospital has its own antimicrobial stewardship program, which requires the enthusiastic participation of both administration and medical staff. The key components are audits and feedbacks, antibiotic pre-authorization, the use of guidelines or written material, and healthcare professional education. These strategies allow for a reduction in total antibiotic exposure while still providing the best care and avoiding the overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Prospective audits can reveal ineffective interventions and suggest changes. The goal of this review is to gain a better understanding of Antimicrobial Stewardship programs so that antibiotic prescribing, dispensing, and administration can be improved in multiple care settings.