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Antimicrobial Resistance/Antibiotic Stewardship

What is Antimicrobial Resistance?

Antibiotics are medicines used to prevent and treat bacterial infections. Antimicrobial resistance occurs when the medicines used to treat all types of infections, including bacteria, fungi and parasites no longer work. When microorganisms (i.e. bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa) develop antimicrobial resistance they are sometimes called "superbugs". When the medicines become ineffective, infections will persist in the body, increasing the risk of spreading the infection to others.

Learn more about CDC: Antimicrobial Resistance

What is Antimicrobial Stewardship?

Per the Infectious Diseases Society of America: "Antimicrobial stewardship refers to coordinated interventions designed to improve and measure the appropriate use of antimicrobials by promoting the selection of the optimal antimicrobial drug regimen, dose, duration of therapy, and route of administration. Antimicrobial stewards seek to achieve optimal clinical outcomes related to antimicrobial use, minimize toxicity and other adverse events, reduce health care costs for infections, and limit the selection for antimicrobial resistant strains."

Antimicrobial Stewardship Toolkits

CDC's Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship provides facilities and providers a set of guiding principles to improve antibiotic use and outcomes of patients. There is no single approach to optimize antibiotic use in all settings.

Antibiotics Awareness Weekau-badge-2.png

Learn more at Healthcare-Associated Infections

USAAW is an annual observance that raises awareness of the threat of antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic use.

Infection Prevention and Antimicrobial Stewardship Education

Antimicrobial Stewardship Report

Additional Resources

For Providers

For Patients

One Health Initiative





Page last updated: December 11, 2023