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Antimicrobial Stewardship: The Role of Hospitalists and the Emergency Department

  • Shared Practice and Economic Issues (A. Amin, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Emergency and Hospital Medicine Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The use of potent broad-spectrum antibiotics has led to the growing challenge of antibiotic resistance and Clostridium difficile infections worldwide. Multidrug-resistant infections account for a significant portion of hospital-acquired infections, having a major negative impact on clinical outcomes and healthcare costs.

Recent Findings

It has been reported that a large fraction of antimicrobial use in acute care hospitals is inappropriate or suboptimal. Antimicrobial stewardship promotes the judicious use of antimicrobials to improve patient care, while minimizing unintended consequences such as antibiotic resistance, C. difficile infections, and antibiotic-related toxicities. Core stewardship interventions include formulary restriction, prospective audit with feedback, and antibiotic time-out. Several supplemental strategies are also effective, including education, pharmacy-driven interventions, and early laboratory diagnostics. The transition to electronic medical records has also made stewardship efforts more efficient.

Summary

Antimicrobial resistance and clostridium difficile infections have become growing worldwide concerns. Antimicrobial stewardship promotes the judicious use of antimicrobials. The emerging roles of the hospitalist and the emergency department allow broader implementation of stewardship strategies to curb antibiotic resistance and improve patient care.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as:• Of importance •• Of major importance

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hospitalist Program, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Irvine, USA

    Lanny Hsieh

  2. Hospitalist Program, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Irvine, USA

    Alpesh Amin

Authors
  1. Lanny Hsieh
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  2. Alpesh Amin
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Correspondence to Lanny Hsieh.

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Drs Hsieh and Amin declare that they have no conflicts of interests.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by the author.

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This article is part of the Topical collection on Shared Practice and Economic Issues.

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Hsieh, L., Amin, A. Antimicrobial Stewardship: The Role of Hospitalists and the Emergency Department. Curr Emerg Hosp Med Rep 4, 177–183 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40138-016-0112-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40138-016-0112-3

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