What is a core principle of antibiotic stewardship?

A core principle of antibiotic stewardship is to educate and build expertise among healthcare providers, which enhances their understanding of appropriate antibiotic use. This includes fostering knowledge regarding the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, recognizing when antibiotics are necessary, and guiding proper prescribing practices. By prioritizing education, healthcare professionals can make informed decisions that mitigate the risk of developing resistant bacteria, thereby ensuring that antibiotics remain effective for treating infections.

Education empowers clinicians with the skills and knowledge to assess patients accurately, leading to more judicious use of antibiotics based on clinical guidelines, evidence-based practices, and local resistance patterns. Additionally, building expertise helps in the development of protocols that optimize treatment strategies while minimizing unnecessary prescriptions.

Other options, such as advocating for unlimited antibiotic use or reducing guidelines for prescription, contradict the goals of stewardship, which specifically seek to promote responsible use of antibiotics. Similarly, minimizing tracking of antibiotic use goes against the principle of monitoring and improving antibiotic prescribing practices, as tracking is essential for assessing the impact of stewardship efforts and identifying areas for improvement.