Early experience with antimicrobial stewardship ward rounds at a tertiary referral hospital

Cairns, Kelly A; Jenney, Adam W J; Krishnaswamy, Sushena; Dooley, Michael J; Morrissey, Orla; Lewin, Sharon R; Cheng, Allen C

doi:10.5694/mja11.10809

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To the Editor: Antimicrobial resistance has been identified as a major concern in Australia, particularly as few new antimicrobial agents are being developed.1 Studies suggest that up to half of antimicrobial agents prescribed in hospitals are inappropriate.2-4 Antimicrobial stewardship interventions, including dissemination of clinical guidelines and restrictions on antimicrobial formularies, may not be fully able to account for the complex indications for antimicrobial use in hospitalised patients.

1 Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC.
2 Monash University, Melbourne, VIC.

Correspondence: allen.cheng@monash.edu

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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5. Paskovaty A, Pflomm JM, Myke N, et al. A multidisciplinary approach to antimicrobial stewardship: evolution into the 21st century. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2005; 25: 1-10.

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