What is an objective of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program?

An objective of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program is to reduce the incidence of antimicrobial resistance. This objective is critical because antimicrobial resistance poses a significant public health threat, leading to higher medical costs, prolonged hospital stays, and increased mortality.

Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs aim to promote the appropriate use of antimicrobials, ensuring they are prescribed only when necessary and in the most effective manner. By fostering responsible prescribing practices and reducing unnecessary use of antibiotics, these programs can significantly decrease the development and spread of resistant bacteria. Consequently, this helps preserve the effectiveness of existing antibiotics, ensuring they remain effective for treating infections when truly needed.

This commitment to judicious use of antimicrobials ultimately helps protect both individual patients and the broader community from the consequences of resistant infections.