PRESENTED BY

Purpose of this booklet

Evidence from around the world shows a global decline in the effectiveness of antibiotics . Inappropriate use of antibiotics has driven the dramatic increase in resistance seen to all first-line and last-resort antibiotics . Antimicrobial resistance ( AMR ) has been identified by the WHO as a global healthcare threat as it limits our capacity to fight life-threatening diseases .

Antibiotic stewardship ( ABS ) is a key strategy used to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics by promoting and monitoring their responsible use . If used effectively , it can help reduce and optimise the prescription of wantibiotics in several healthcare settings .

This booklet serves as a practical guide to support the implementation of an ABS programme within a hospital , outlining the key steps needed for successful implementation . Most of the information on ABS implementation have been adopted from recommendations and guidelines from IDSA , CDC , WHO , BSAC and CDDEP .

The role of in-vitro diagnostics in an ABS programme is discussed , and in particular the role of the biomarker procalcitonin ( PCT ) is highlighted , as the WHO recognises the value of PCT for tertiary care facilities and above ‘ to guide antibiotic therapy or its discontinuation in sepsis and lower respiratory tract infection ’.

We gratefully acknowledge the help of Dr . Broyles , Prof . Kwa and Prof . Giamarellos- Bourboulis for providing the examples for practical implementations of procalcitonin into an antibiotic stewardship Programme . �

Scan QR code to download whitepaper here

14 www . intelligenthealth . tech