Quality standard

This quality standard covers the effective use of antimicrobial medicines (including antibiotics) to reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance, which is when antimicrobial medicines lose their effectiveness. It covers all settings and all types of antimicrobials for treating bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic infections. It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement.

Last reviewed: 22 April 2016

How to use NICE quality standards and how we develop them

Quality standards help you improve the quality of care you provide or commission. They apply in England and Wales (see the UK government website and Welsh government website). Decisions on how they apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland are made by ministers in the Scottish government and Northern Ireland Executive.

Find out how to use quality standards and how we develop them. 

Endorsing bodies

This quality standard is endorsed by Department of Health and Social Care as required by the Health and Social Care Act (2012).

Supporting organisations

A number of organisations recognise the benefit of this quality standard in improving care. They work with us to promote it to commissioners and service providers: