Who Are Antimicrobial Stewardship Stakeholders?

Antimicrobial stewardship strategies are frequently driven by the clinicians and pharmacists synonymous with infectious disease care. But that does not mean those care teams can execute health system-wide stewardship plans alone.

In the next segment of an interview with Contagion, Jason C. Gallagher, PharmD, FCCP, FIDP, FIDSA, BCPS, Clinical Professor at Temple University School of Pharmacy, discussed the necessary and diverse stakeholders of a successful antimicrobial stewardship program.

“If you don’t have buy-in from clinicians, it’s not going to go anywhere,” Gallagher stressed. “If the microbiology lab is not supporting, then it’s not going to go that far.”

Gallagher further stressed the significance of microbiology lab participation and refined strategies, such as expanded assay capability and limited testing processes. He added that surgeons, who are responsible for significant antimicrobial use, are key stakeholders in more efficient programs.

“They’re protective of their patients—understandably,” Gallagher said. “But that protection often leads to over-prescription. It sounds trite, but it really is a team effort and it does take the involvement of multiple people in an institution to be successful.”