Pew report profiles 10 inpatient antibiotic stewardship programs

A new report from the Pew Charitable Trusts profiles 10 antibiotic stewardship programs in inpatient settings, which provide examples to hospitals seeking to establish or improve their antibiotic stewardship efforts. “Though ASPs differ in their details, these case studies reveal themes that are critical to any successful program implementation,” the authors note, including the presence of an influential champion and shared responsibility among staff for monitoring the program and implementing new interventions. The case studies include results, where available, and discuss issues such as sustainability and “lessons learned.” Antibiotic stewardship programs are designed to minimize inappropriate or unnecessary antibiotic use and slow the spread of resistance. The AHA’s Physician Leadership Forum offers an antibiotic stewardship toolkit to help hospitals and health systems enhance their antimicrobial stewardship programs.