Building Blocks of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program

Inappropriate or unnecessary antibiotic use contributes to the global problem of antimicrobial resistance. Given the increasing numbers of deaths that result from drug-resistant-infections, antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) has emerged as a viable approach to reverse this trend. This white paper is a guide to creating an effective, evidence-based AMS program in wound care settings to reduce the use of systemic antibiotic therapy while at the same time preventing or treating infection.