title: Antimicrobial stewardship: a collaborative partnership between infection preventionists and health care epidemiologists.
abstract: It is clear that the widespread and injudicious use of antimicrobials has greatly increased the presence of MDROs that threaten the health of all. There is worldwide acknowledgement that this threat is growing, and that prudent use of antimicrobials combined with infection prevention can prevent harm and improve patient safety. Antimicrobial stewardship programs must harness the talents of all members of the health care team to effectively identify the organism, determine its susceptibility, institute any precautions required, and prescribe the narrowest-acting antibiotic that will destroy it. IPs/HEs play a pivotal role in this approach, by assisting with early organism and infected patient identification, by promoting compliance with standard and transmission-based precautions and other infection prevention strategies such as care bundle practices, hand hygiene, and by educating staff, patients, and visitors.
authors.affiliation: Workgroup Chair, HCA, Inc., Nashville, TN, USA. Julia.Moody@hcahealthcare.com
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moody
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Cosgrove
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Olmsted
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Septimus
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aureden
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oriola
authors.forename: Gita Wasan
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Kavita K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Trivedi
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D016357:Infection Control Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011634:Public Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D055553:Prescription Drugs