Minimum antibiotic stewardship measures

Abstract

An ESCMID study group on antibiotic policies (ESGAP) was formed in 1998. Several subgroups have been formed to develop key strategy in various aspects of antibiotic stewardship. Sub group III was formed to lead on antibiotic stewardship in European hospitals. This article is a final version of guidelines that have been developed by the group through internet discussion. A provisional version has been posted on the ESGAP section of ESCMID’s website. Some important aspects of community antibiotic use have also been included.

How Can Multi-Professional Education Support Better Stewardship?

“…Written guidelines have become the mainstay of supportive and educational measures for prescribers. 52 For example, a survey of specialist antimicrobial pharmacists in National Health Service Organisations in England in 2013 53 identified how virtually all respondents reported having policies or guidance in place, depending on the clinical area. The adoption of a classical multifaceted educational and organisational approach that includes the use of guidelines adapted to local susceptibility data, dissemination through handouts and posters combined with educational sessions and clinical pharmacist leadership has achieved enhanced adoption and use of guidance and significantly better antimicrobial prescribing, even in relative low resource settings.…”