Antibiotic Stewardship Priorities: Follow the Evidence

Medscape Infectious Diseases

Antibiotic Stewardship Priorities: Follow the Evidence

October 12, 2016

An Assessment of Antibiotic Stewardship Interventions

There is a consensus that antibiotic resistance has reached a crisis status requiring substantial response through two mechanisms: new antibiotic development and smart  antibiotic use. Physicians have minimal control over the development of new antibiotics, but near absolute control over how they are used. (A major exception is antibiotic use in agriculture.) There is general agreement that contemporary prescribing practice includes substantial misuse of antibiotics. It has been estimated that about 50% of antibiotic use is unnecessary. Read More…