Antimicrobial stewardship
Antimicrobial resistance has emerged as a significant health care quality and patient safety issue in the 21st century that, combined with a rapidly dwindling antimicrobial armamentarium, has resulted in a critical threat to the public health of the United States.
Antimicrobial stewardship
Antimicrobial stewardship refers to coordinated interventions designed to improve and measure the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents by promoting the selection of the optimal antimicrobial drug regimen including dosing, duration of therapy and route of administration.
The major objectives of antimicrobial stewardship are to:
- achieve best clinical outcomes related to antimicrobial use
- minimize toxicity and other adverse events
- limit the selective pressure on bacterial populations that drives the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant strains.
Antimicrobial stewardship may also reduce excessive costs attributable to suboptimal antimicrobial use.
Policy statement on antimicrobial stewardship by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), and the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS).
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2012 Apr;33(4):322-7. doi: 10.1086/665010. PMID: 22418625.
Supporting and promoting stewardship
AS Clinical Support
IDSA supports clinicians and AS programs through education, clinical practice guidelines and by sharing resources and examples of best practices and initiatives.
AS Centers of Excellence
IDSA promotes excellence in hospital stewardship through the AS Centers of Excellence Program, a unique recognition program designed by IDSA members and the only recognition in the ID field.