Antimicrobial Resistance & Stewardship

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat to public health, with deaths attributed to resistant infections projected to exceed ten million per year by 2050.1 The rapid evolution of resistance requires early identification of patients at risk followed by administration of appropriate empiric antibiotic therapy. Collaboration between stewardship teams and the microbiology lab can play a critical role with the implementation of modern antibiograms that support a clinician’s choice of optimal antimicrobial therapy sooner.

Clinical labs are often faced with the challenge of needing to be better, faster, and more productive – while sometimes expected to do so with fewer resources and contending with supply chain issues. With the continued focus on value-based care as a main objective in healthcare, optimizing the utilization of diagnostic testing is more important than ever.

We asked Dr. Catherine Duggan, CEO of the International Pharmaceutical Federation, about what clinical pharmacists can do in their roles to contribute to and promote antimicrobial stewardship.

Antimicrobial resistant bacteria pose a major public health threat because they limit treatment options for infectious diseases. Common ailments like urinary tract infections (UTIs), which have often been easily and quickly cured by antibiotics historically, are becoming harder to treat due to resistant bacteria. Not only does this prolong discomfort for those suffering from UTIs, it also presents the danger that the infection may lead to a more serious condition.

Data suggests that since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increased prevalence of antimicrobial resistant infections and increases in healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). A recent study shows an alarming incidence of multidrug-resistant candidiasis in COVID-19 patients, which carries high morbidity and mortality rates. With this increasing prevalence of resistant infections, the utilization of surveillance tools such as whole genome sequencing (WGS) are critical in preventing the spread of these infections.