Implementation of Stewardship Programs in Hospitals: Systematic Review

Author(s): Funes, Vanessa | Abstract: Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a pandemic issue affecting hospital patients. There are many studies showing what can be done to decrease resistance of many microbes, but there is not one complete method. This review indicates the effective methods that can be used to prevent resistance from spreading in hospitals.Methods: The review was set to focus on antimicrobial resistance, misuse, and overuse of antimicrobials, what doctors are doing that influences resistance and stewardship programs. Articles published from 2008- 2018 were found using Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and PLOS.Results: Out of the 15 articles found, 7 articles met the ideal selection criteria and were included in the review. All articles demonstrated the importance of antimicrobial resistance and provided ways in which resistance can be decreased. All studies reported the use of stewardship programs were necessary, but only three articles demonstrated its effectiveness.Conclusion: This review demonstrates a high need for antimicrobial stewardship programs to decrease the evolution of antimicrobial resistance. However, there is a problem with individual medical providers not complying to such programs due to the restrictions they say it creates. The results state otherwise and in fact demonstrate how a medical provider’s behavior must change to provide significance on the implementation of successful stewardship programs.