Antimicrobial stewardship in wound care: measurement, implementation, and outcomes
Summary: This article examines antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) specifically within wound care, outlining frameworks to measure antibiotic use, implement stewardship interventions, and assess clinical outcomes while minimizing resistance and toxicity.
Key Highlights:
- Defines AMS metrics relevant to wounds: antibiotic days, spectrum intensity, guideline adherence, culture-guided therapy.
- Describes implementation strategies: care pathways, education, formulary controls, and microbiology collaboration.
- Recommends outcome tracking: healing rates, infection recurrence, adverse drug events, and resistance trends.
- Emphasizes biofilm-aware practice, debridement, and topical/antiseptic stewardship alongside systemic therapy.
Keywords:
antimicrobial stewardship,
wound infection,
antibiotic resistance,
biofilm