Insights on antimicrobial stewardship in the microbiology laboratory: a review

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), infections are responsible for 25% of deaths worldwide. In 1990, it was estimated that 16 million people died from infections. In 2010, the number of deaths dropped to 15 million, with a decline of only 1% per year. And for 2050, the WHO predicts that 13 million deaths will be attributed to these causes, even with a number of measures for prevention and prophylaxis are recommended and implemented for these conditions.1 The causative organisms of these infections are increasingly developing resistance mechanisms currently available pharmacological treatment, and multidrug resistant organisms are called (MDR). Microbial resistance is the ability of a microorganism to withstand the action of an antimicrobial agent. This resistance is a major threat to global public health, it increases the morbidity and mortality of the population and impose huge costs on all countries.2 In the United States, infections caused by MDR organisms burden by more than 20 billion dollars a year and generating spending more than $8 million due to additional hospitalizations.3 In the European Union, it is estimated that about 25,000 people may die annually infections caused by bacteria and the associated costs are estimated at about 1.5 billion euros per year.4