Antimicrobial stewardship programs support coordinated interventions designed to improve and measure the appropriate use of antimicrobials including selection, dosing, duration of therapy and route of administration. Improving antibiotic prescribing and use is critical to effectively treat infections, protect patients from harms caused by unnecessary antibiotic use, and combat antibiotic resistance. Antimicrobial stewardship is a required organizational practice in hospital settings.
HCCSS South West is the first region in Ontario to implement Antimicrobial stewardship in a home care setting. YSL is proud to have been an integral part of the program, working closely with the infectious disease physicians and Antimicrobial stewardship pharmacists in our hospital partners and other healthcare providers.
To ensure sustainable success of the IV Antimicrobial stewardship, the program is focused on the seven core elements included in the “National Quality Forum Partner’s Playbook for Antibiotic Stewardship in Acute Care,” and Public Health Ontario’s priority ranking and ease of implementation.