Antimicrobial stewardship: Helping combat the spread of antimicrobial resistance

Antibiotics have become the mainstay for fighting bacterial infections in modern medicine, assuring safety in complex procedures such as organ transplants and the treatment of cancer. However, they are not without their consequences: the increased use of antimicrobials means increased risk of resistance in bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Resistance results in reduced effectiveness, leading to reduced antimicrobial benefit for future generations. To ensure that antimicrobials are used scrupulously, antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs are on the rise. In this interview, John Hurst, PharmD, BCIDP, Senior Director of Antimicrobial Stewardship for bioMérieux, tells us more about the importance of AMS, current practices, and challenges in the field.