Principles and Practice of Antibiotic Stewardship in the ICU

Chiagozie I. Pickens, Richard G. Wunderink*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

65 Scopus citations

Abstract

In the face of emerging drug-resistant pathogens and a decrease in the development of new antimicrobial agents, antibiotic stewardship should be practiced in all critical care units. Antibiotic stewardship should be a core competency of all critical care practitioners in conjunction with a formal antibiotic stewardship program (ASP). Prospective audit and feedback, and antibiotic time-outs, are effective components of an ASP in the ICU. As rapid diagnostics are introduced in the ICU, assessment of performance and effect on outcomes will clearly be needed. Disease-specific stewardship for community-acquired pneumonia that relies on clinical pathways may be particularly high-yield. Computerized decision support has the potential to individualize stewardship for specific patients. Finally, infection control and prevention is the cornerstone of every ASP.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)163-171
Number of pages9
JournalCHEST
Volume156
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2019

Funding

FUNDING/SUPPORT: Dr Pickens is supported by National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute T32 HL076139 Training Program in Lung Sciences grant. FUNDING/SUPPORT: Dr Pickens is supported by National Institutes of Health/ National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute T32 HL076139 Training Program in Lung Sciences grant. Financial/nonfinancial disclosures: None declared. FUNDING/SUPPORT: Dr Pickens is supported by National Institutes of Health/ National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute T32 HL076139 Training Program in Lung Sciences grant.

Keywords

  • antibiotic
  • resistance
  • stewardship

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

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