Antimicrobial stewardship: A collaborative partnership between infection preventionists and health care epidemiologists

Julia Moody, Sara E. Cosgrove, Russell Olmsted, Edward Septimus, Kathy Aureden, Shannon Oriola, Gita Wasan Patel, Kavita K. Trivedi

Research output: Contribution to journalEditorialpeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

It is clear that the widespread and injudicious use of antimicrobials has greatly increased the presence of MDROs that threaten the health of all. There is worldwide acknowledgement that this threat is growing, and that prudent use of antimicrobials combined with infection prevention can prevent harm and improve patient safety. Antimicrobial stewardship programs must harness the talents of all members of the health care team to effectively identify the organism, determine its susceptibility, institute any precautions required, and prescribe the narrowest-acting antibiotic that will destroy it. IPs/HEs play a pivotal role in this approach, by assisting with early organism and infected patient identification, by promoting compliance with standard and transmission-based precautions and other infection prevention strategies such as care bundle practices, hand hygiene, and by educating staff, patients, and visitors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)94-95
Number of pages2
JournalAmerican Journal of Infection Control
Volume40
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Health Policy
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases

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