20th May 2024

Antimicrobial prescribing

Background

Antibiotic prescribing and stewardship is becoming a more pertinent issue as antibiotic resistance continues to rise.

Antimicrobial stewardship

Antimicrobial stewardship is defined as an organisational or healthcare‑system‑wide approach to promoting and monitoring judicious use of antimicrobials to preserve their future effectiveness. Thus, the aim is to reduce the risks of inadequate, inappropriate and ill-effects of treatment.

It is important to review antibiotic prescriptions often to ensure that the prescription remains appropriate.

References

• National Institute for Health Care Excellence. Antimicrobial stewardship: systems and processes for effective antimicrobial medicine use. London: NICE; 2016.(NICE Guideline No. 15). Available from: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng15