Antimicrobial stewardship

Quality statements

Statement 1 People with a self-limiting condition, as assessed by a primary care prescriber, receive advice about self-management and adverse consequences of overusing antimicrobials.

Statement 2 Prescribers in primary care can use back-up (delayed) antimicrobial prescribing when there is clinical uncertainty about whether a condition is self-limiting or is likely to deteriorate.

Statement 3 People prescribed an antimicrobial have the clinical indication, dose and duration of treatment documented in their clinical record.

Statement 4 People in hospital who are prescribed an antimicrobial have a microbiological sample taken and their treatment reviewed when the results are available.

Statement 5 Individuals and teams responsible for antimicrobial stewardship monitor data and provide feedback on prescribing practice at prescriber, team, organisation and commissioner level.

Statement 6 (developmental statement). Prescribers in secondary and dental care use electronic prescribing systems that link indication with the antimicrobial prescription.