What are the primary goals of an ASP?

The primary goals of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) center around improving clinical outcomes and reducing antimicrobial resistance. This is crucial in healthcare settings where the overuse and misuse of antibiotics can lead to significant complications, including the emergence of resistant pathogens. By ensuring that antibiotics are used judiciously, ASPs aim to optimize therapy for patients, minimizing the duration of antibiotic use, and selecting the most appropriate drugs, doses, and duration.

The overarching aim is to improve patient safety and outcomes, which includes curing infections effectively while also preserving the efficacy of existing antibiotics to combat future infections. Through activities such as ongoing education for healthcare professionals, monitoring antibiotic use, and implementing clinical guidelines for appropriate antibiotic prescribing, ASPs contribute significantly to combating the global health threat of antimicrobial resistance.

The other options misalign with the primary objectives of ASPs. While increasing healthcare facility profit margins, promoting research on new antibiotics, and making over-the-counter antibiotics more available may be related to pharmaceutical or healthcare industry interests, they do not align with the core mission of an ASP, which prioritizes patient care and public health over profit or drug accessibility.