Combat Antibiotic Resistance with Antimicrobial Stewardship

That antibiotic you're prescribing might do more harm than good—and in some cases, it might do no good at all.

Unnecessary and inappropriately prescribed antibiotics are responsible for one of the world's most urgent public health problems: the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections within outpatient settings.¹

That's why antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs)—coordinated interventions designed to improve and measure the appropriate use of antimicrobials by promoting the selection of the optimal antimicrobial drug regimen, dose, duration of therapy, and route of administration—are already in place at hospitals nationwide, and have been recommended and endorsed by leading healthcare associations including:

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)
• The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC)
• The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA)
• The Joint Commission

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Antimicrobial Stewardship in the Pediatric Setting

Patients are at risk for antibiotic-resistant infection regardless of their demographics or where they are treated, but the pediatric population is particularly at risk because of:

• Different antimicrobial needs and uses
• Unique dosing considerations
• Vulnerability for resistance due to a lifetime of antibiotic exposure
• An increased risk of adverse events⁴

Antibiotics are the most common cause of emergency department visits for adverse drug events in children.⁵

The Mission and Benefits of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP)

The main goal of an ASP is to ensure each patient receives the most appropriate antimicrobial with the correct dose and duration. Proper ASPs can lead to:

• Optimal clinical outcomes related to antimicrobial use
• A reduction in adverse events
• Reduced costs of health care for infections
• Limiting the selection for antimicrobial resistant strains

Resources for More Information on Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP)

Learn more about the benefits of an ASP:

• The CDC offers a list of recommendations for outpatient healthcare professionals regarding appropriate antibiotic prescribing as part of its Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work program. Be sure to download the CDC report Antibiotic Resistant Threats in the United States, 2013, for more information about the threat.
• The APIC offers resources, including toolkits and position papers that promote the appropriate use of antimicrobials.
• SHEA has an extensive section dedicated to antimicrobial stewardship that includes research, guidelines, and strategies.

How You Can Reduce the Risk of Antibiotic Resistance

An ASP goes hand-in-hand with infection prevention and control—as well as diagnosis and treatment, when infection occurs. Trust Henry Schein for the ASP products and solutions that can ensure your patients are treated with the right medicine, in the right dosage, at the right time.

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