Pharmaceutical Quality Control

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been identified as an increasing threat to modern medicine, leading to higher treatment costs and increased morbidity and mortality.1 The misuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics is a major contributor to the rise of AMR — particularly in emergency care, where studies have estimated that 40% to 60% of antibiotics are inappropriately prescribed.2 To understand the cause of this disparity, it is important to provide context on the many unique facets of the emergency department, while exploring how comprehensive antimicrobial stewardship could improve prescribing practices.