Why your Role is essential and Antimicrobial Stewardship is needed?

Antibiotics are among the most frequently prescribed classes of drugs and it is estimated that approximately 50% of antibiotic use,in both the outpatient and inpatient settings, is inappropriate. Patients who are unnecessarily exposed to antibiotics are placed at risk for serious adverse events with no clinical benefit. The misuse of antibiotics has contributed to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance, which has become one of the most serious and growing threats to public health. Unlike other medications, the potential for spread of resistant organisms means that the misuse of antibiotics can adversely impact the health of patients who are not even exposed to them.

Strong evidences demonstrate that hospital-basedprograms dedicated to improving antibiotic use, commonly referred to as“Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs”, can both optimize the treatment ofinfections and reduce adverse events associated with antibiotic use. Theseprograms help clinicians improve the quality of patient care and improvepatient safety through increased infection cure rates, reduced treatmentfailures, and increased frequency of correct prescribing for therapy andprophylaxis. Moreover these programs often achieve these benefits while savinghospitals money.

Workshop Objectives

This workshop is designed to update the attendees'knowledge on antimicrobials and to teach the basic skills and provide anoverview of Antimicrobial Stewardship practice needed to develop anAntimicrobial Stewardship Program in any healthcare setting.

Who Should Attend?

Infectious Diseases Specialists, Internists,Clinicians, Family Physicians, General Practitioners, Clinical Pharmacists,Pharmacists, Specialized Nurses, General Nurses and Other Healthcare PolicyMakers and Providers.