title: Antimicrobial stewardship in pediatrics: how every pediatrician can be a steward.
abstract: Antimicrobial stewardship (AS) programs are effective in improving clinical outcomes associated with antimicrobial therapies while improving patient safety by reducing adverse events and development of bacterial resistance. Understanding the basic principles of AS is essential to the successful development and implementation of AS strategies. Identifying and developing strategies to address barriers and challenges to AS can facilitate the establishment of financial, administrative, and organizational support, and agreement and participation by individual prescribers. Review of published outcomes of AS demonstrates the effectiveness in reducing unnecessary antimicrobial use and adverse events such as Clostridium difficile infections. We also illustrate the need for further research and expansion of AS activities to office-based practices and communities by using novel and innovative AS strategies and by influencing regional and national policies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC2Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: David Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Hyun
authors.forename: Adam L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hersh
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Namtu
authors.forename: Debra L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Palazzi
authors.forename: Holly D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Maples
authors.forename: Jason G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Newland
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saiman
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D033161:Government Regulation; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D057970:Inappropriate Prescribing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D061214:Patient Safety; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents