The Antimicrobial Stewardship Team
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In an attempt to ensure antimicrobials are prescribed appropriately in hospitals, antimicrobial stewardship teams have emerged to advise and educate staff while monitoring compliance with prescribing policies as well as ensuring good standards of patient management.
THE ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP TEAM
In an attempt to ensure antimicrobials are prescribed
appropriately in hospitals, antimicrobial stewardship teams have emerged to advise and educate staff
while monitoring compliance with
prescribing policies as well
as ensuring good standards of patient management. Typically these teams comprise, at their core,
a consultant in infectious diseases and/or clinical
microbiology, and a senior
pharmacist specializing in infectious diseases,
and may also include
infection control practitioners. The team takes a lead in reviewing the therapy of individual
patients and setting treatment plans, and, often
as part of a wider team, will coordinate the writing and review of antibiotic treatment policies. Other responsibilities may include the education and training of clinical staff,
the audit of how well prescribers are adhering to the carefully written policies, and the provision of feedback to prescribers. Evidence
suggests that this multidisciplinary approach,
aligned with targeted
and timely feedback,
can improve adherence to
prescribing policy, reduce drug
expenditure, and improve
patient outcomes.
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