Antimicrobial Stewardship

Pill bottle and bacterial culture

Antibiotics revolutionized the practice of medicine by providing a rapid cure to many illnesses that were once fatal. But those days may soon be gone. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics has fueled the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. There are now some bacteria that are resistant to all or nearly all available antibiotics. “The end of antibiotics is no longer a question,” said Arjun Srinivasan, MD, (CAPT, USPHS), Associate Director for Healthcare Associated Infection Prevention Programs for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “We are quickly running out of therapies to treat some infections that previously had been eminently treatable.”

Pharmacists and physicians play a key role in antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) – using the right antibiotic at the right time and only when necessary. Through its Statewide Antimicrobial Stewardship Collaborative, providers and organizations are collaborating to find innovative strategies for more judicious use of antibiotics and to prevent the emergence of drug-resistant organisms, such as Clostridium difficile.
Antimicrobial stewardship is critical to ensure our health care community slows the trajectory of resistant bacteria and ensures the health and safety of our patients. Antimicrobial stewardship is essential in safe and effective patient care and takes a complex, collaborative and dedicated team approach.
WSHA is committed to coming alongside hospitals to support them in launching, growing and sustaining their antimicrobial stewardship programs. WSHA provides a variety of resources, such as targeted coaching calls, implementation coaching, physician engagement opportunities and site visits.
Antimicrobial Stewardship Resources have been updated and available on the Infection Prevention and Control website Click here