Promoting antimicrobial stewardship to tackle antimicrobial resistance

WHO guides countries to develop and implement Antimicrobial Stewardship Programmes (ASPs) – one of the most cost-effective interventions to optimize the use of antimicrobial medicines, improve patient outcomes and reduce antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and health care-associated infections (HAIs).

Antimicrobial stewardship is a systematic approach to educate and support health care professionals to follow evidence-based guidelines for prescribing and administering antimicrobials. The education of the health workforce is of crucial importance, as they form the front line in safeguarding the effectiveness of antimicrobial medicines.

AMR occurs when bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi become resistant to antimicrobial medicines that are used to treat the infections they cause. As a result of AMR, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections increasingly difficult – or even impossible – to treat.

To help countries achieve their antimicrobial stewardship goals, WHO supports various activities, including workshops, webinars and the development of educational tools.