Antimicrobial Stewardship to Control AMR

Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is a coordinated, evidence-based strategy designed to optimise antimicrobial use, improve patient outcomes, and reduce antimicrobial resistance (AMR). By ensuring the right drug, dose, route, and duration, AMS enhances clinical care while minimising unnecessary exposure to antibiotics. Hospitals implementing AMS benefit from improved treatment success, reduced mortality, shorter hospital stays, and significant cost savings. Beyond human health, AMS extends to veterinary systems, recognising the One Health link between human, animal, and environmental health. Effective programmes are built on strong leadership, multidisciplinary teams, local guidelines, robust monitoring, and feedback mechanisms. Interventions such as audit and feedback, formulary restrictions, IV-to-oral switches, and diagnostic stewardship have consistently demonstrated success globally. AMS effectiveness is evaluated through key metrics, including antibiotic consumption, clinical outcomes, and patterns of resistance. However, challenges such as resistance to change, resource limitations, knowledge gaps, and poor coordination hinder implementation. Addressing these requires advocacy, capacity building, interprofessional collaboration, and sustained investment. AMS remains essential for safeguarding antimicrobial efficacy across human and veterinary domains.