Edwards-Jones V
British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing). Date of publication 2020 Aug 13;volume 29(15):S10-S16.
1. Br J Nurs. 2020 Aug 13;29(15):S10-S16. doi: 10.12968/bjon.2020.29.15.S10.
Antimicrobial stewardship in wound care.
Edwards-Jones V(1).
Author information:
(1)Emeritus Professor of Medical Microbiology, Manchester Metropolitan
University.
Strategies to tackle the global crisis of antimicrobial resistance include
implementing antimicrobial stewardship across the healthcare and agricultural
sectors. Many clinical specialities have developed policies to advise
practitioners on how to prescribe antibiotics more effectively, but there is
still a lack of data on the impact of this change. Overuse and misuse of
antibiotics have been commonplace since their introduction 70 years ago, and have
contributed to the development of the resistance seen today. There is a dearth of
new antibiotics and, if nothing is done to restrict the use of those that remain
effective, there is a risk of returning to the pre-antibiotic era where simple
infections could result in death. In wound care, it is essential that antibiotic
treatment is appropriate to reduce infections. Many medical conditions predispose
people to wounds that are difficult to heal and become chronic unless the
underlying causes are addressed. Most wound infections are caused by bacteria,
which are becoming increasingly resistant to commonly used antibiotics. This
necessitates strict regimens for managing infection, which include prescribing
antibiotics only when they are essential. Antimicrobial stewardship is undertaken
in all UK healthcare facilities, and local advisory committees oversee the
prudent use of antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents to try to prevent
further increases in resistance. National guidance has been produced but whether
full compliance has been followed has yet to be established and the impact of
implementation needs to be analysed.
DOI: 10.12968/bjon.2020.29.15.S10
PMID: 32790545 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
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