title: Antimicrobial stewardship of β-lactams in intensive care units.
abstract: Stewardship of all antimicrobials, including β-lactam antibiotics, has gained in prominence over the last decade. Appropriate use of these agents has become vitally important; especially in the treatment and management of the critically ill. Opportunities therefore exist to develop innovations to optimise the use of antimicrobials in places like the intensive care unit. The next few years represent an important window in which routine antimicrobial stewardship principles such as surveillance of local ecology, minimising overlap of spectrum of activity and prompt de-escalation upon review of cultures can be integrated with new technologies including improved diagnostic techniques, individualised dosing strategies and computerised decision support. It is important though, that these measures to improve stewardship in the intensive care unit continue to be critically evaluated in the literature.
authors.affiliation: Burns Trauma and Critical Care Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Menino Osbert
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Cotta
authors.forename: Jason A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tabah
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lipman
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vogelaers
authors.forename: Stijn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blot
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016638:Critical Illness; D054796:Drug Dosage Calculations; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D057285:Precision Medicine; D018440:beta-Lactam Resistance; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D047090:beta-Lactams