Key messages
- Antimicrobial stewardship aims to reduce inappropriate anitmicrobial use and improve patient outcomes.
- Antimicrobial stewardship reduces antimicrobial resistance and toxicity.
- Antimicrobial stewardship in Victorian hospitals supports the national standard on the quality use of medicines.
Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is an evidence-based systematic approach for optimising antimicrobial use.
AMS programs have been shown to decrease inappropriate antimicrobial usage, improve healthcare outcomes, and reduce adverse consequences of antimicrobial use, including antimicrobial resistance, toxicity and unnecessary costs.
Antimicrobial stewardship programs in Victorian hospitals are closely linked to the department Services Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) program.
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