title: Strategies and challenges of antimicrobial stewardship in long-term care facilities.
abstract: As people are living longer the demand for long-term care facilities (LTCFs) continues to rise. For many reasons, antimicrobials are used intensively in LTCFs, with up to a half of this use considered inappropriate or unnecessary. Over-use of antimicrobials can have direct adverse consequences for LTCF residents and promotes the development and spread of resistant bacteria. It is therefore critical that LTCFs are able to engage in antimicrobial stewardship programmes, which have the potential to minimize the antibiotic selective pressure, while improving the quality of care received by LTCF residents. To date, no antimicrobial stewardship guidelines specific to LTCF settings have been published. Here we outline the scale of antimicrobial use in LTCFs and the underlying drivers for antibiotic over-use. We further describe the particular challenges of antimicrobial stewardship in LTCFs, and review the interventional studies that have aimed to improve antibiotic use in these settings. Practical recommendations are then drawn from this research to help guide the development and implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programmes.
authors: North Devon District Hospital, Barnstaple, UK.
authors: O J
authors: OJ
authors: Dyar
authors: Bolzano Central Hospital, Infectious Diseases Unit, Bolzano, Italy.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Pagani
authors: CHU de Nancy, Service de Maladies Infectieuses, Nancy, France; Université de Lorraine, Université Paris Descartes, EA 4360 Apemac, Nancy, France. Electronic address: celine.pulcini@univ-lorraine.fr.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Pulcini
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D057970:Inappropriate Prescribing; D008134:Long-Term Care; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents
keywords: Antibiotic prescribing; bacterial resistance; elderly; infectious diseases; nursing home; review