Antimicrobial Stewardship Interventions: Narrative Review
Nehad J. Ahmed *
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmacy College, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia and Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmacy College, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia.
Abdul Haseeb
Clinical Pharmacy Department, College of Pharmacy, Umm AlQura University, Saudi Arabia.
Azmi Ahmed Hassali
Discipline of Social Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia.
Amer H. Khan
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmacy College, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is a serious health concern with significant economic and clinical sequelae. Antimicrobial stewardship programs are increasingly being promoted and mandated in order to rationalize and reduce the use of antimicrobials in healthcare institutions and as a result decrease antimicrobial resistance. Several interventions could be used to improve antibiotic use that includes broad, pharmacy driven and infection and syndrome specific interventions. Each hospital should prioritize interventions based on its needs as well as based on the availability of resources and content expertise.
Keywords: Antibiotics use, antimicrobial use, antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial stewardship programs, interventions