Finally, smoking gun evidence that antimicrobial stewardship
decreases the incidence of infection and colonization with antibiotic resistant
bacteria and Clostridium difficile! This excellent meta-analysis can be accessed
here, in the Lancet Infectious Diseases.
Antibiotic stewardship has greatest impact when coupled with
other infection prevention strategies such as hand hygiene, check list,
chlorhexidine bathing etc.
Given the above, I think that the time is now for us to push
for stewardship programs that go beyond business hours on Monday through
Friday. Mechanisms should be in place
for 7 days a week stewardship 'full coverage'.
You get back what
you put in, use antibiotic stewardship to the fullest.