In an age where antimicrobial resistance amongst pathogens grows more prevalent, particularly in the hospital setting, antimicrobial stewardship is an evidence-based, proven measure in the battle against resistance and infection. This single comprehensive, definitive reference work is written by an international team of acknowledged experts in the field. The authors explore the effective use of coordinated antimicrobial interventions to change prescribing practice and help slow the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, ensuring that antimicrobials remain an effective treatment for infection. Amongst the first of its kind, this book provides infectious disease physicians, administrators, laboratory, pharmacy, nursing and medical staff with practical guidance in setting up antimicrobial stewardship programs in their institutions with the aim of selecting the optimal antimicrobial drug regimen, dose, duration of therapy, and route of administration. ; Antimicrobial research has hit a wall: treatment discoveries are rarer and resistant pathogen strains more prevalent. Rather than infection control itself, antimicrobial stewardship is an essential measure in ensuring management of hospital-acquired infections. Throughout this book, international experts discuss all angles of stewardship. ; Part I: Overview of Antibiotic StewardshipCh.1: Principles of Antimicrobial StewardshipCh 2: Clinical Perspective of Antimicrobial StewardshipCh 3: History of Antimicrobial StewardshipCh 4: The Importance of Education in Antimicrobial StewardshipPart II: Antibiotic Resistance Principles in Antibiotic Stewardship Ch 5: Intrinsic and Acquired Mechanisms of ResistanceCh 6: Antimicrobial Resistance: Selection vs. InductionCh 7: Colonization and its importance for emergence of clinical resistanceCh 8: Antibiotic Resistance: associations and implications for antibiotic usage strategies to control multi-resistant bacteriaPart III: Microbiology Laboratory Role in Antibiotic StewardshipCh 9: The role of active surveillance in the prevention of healthcare-acquired infections and antibiotic stewardshipCh 10: Role of Antibiogram in Antibiotic StewardshipCh 11: Selective Reporting and Antimicrobial StewardshipCh 12: Role of New Diagnostics to Enhance Antibiotic Stewardship EffortsPart IV: Infection Control Aspects of Antibiotic StewardshipCh 13: Epidemiology of S aureus and enterococci in children and an overview of antimicrobial resistanceCh 14: Epidemiology of multi-drug resistant gram-negative organismsCh 15: Pathogenesis and Epidemiology of Clostridium difficile Infection: Implications for Antibiotic StewardshipCh 16: Role of the Hospital Epidemiologist in Supporting Antimicrobial StewardshipPart V: Pharmacokinetic (PK) & Pharmacodynamic (PD) Aspects of Antibiotic Dosing in Antibiotic StewardshipCh 17: Principles of Pharmacokinetic / Pharmacodynamic Optimization for Antibiotic DosingCh 18: Optimal use of Gram-negative antibiotics in the real world: providing effective therapy while minimizing resistanceCh19: Optimal Use of FluoroquinolonesCh 20: Optimal Use of Beta-lactam AntibioticsCh 21: Current Approach to Optimal Use and Dosing of Vancomycin in Adult PatientsCh 22: Principles of IV to PO SwitchPart VI: Pharmacy Department Role in Antibiotic StewardshipCh 23: Role of Pharmacists in Antimicrobial StewardshipCh 24: Formulary Management and Economic Considerations; Bridging the Gap between Quality Care and CostCh 25: Approaches in benchmarkingCh 26: Development and execution of stewardship interventionsCh 27: Technologic support for antimicrobial stewardshipPart VII: Measuring Outcomes in Antibiotic Stewardship ProgramsCh 28: Role of Guidelines and Statistical Milestones for Antimicrobial StewardshipCh 29: Economic considerations of Antimicrobial Stewardship ProgramsCh 30: Pharmacoeconomic Implications of Antimicrobial Adverse EventsCh 31: Antimicrobial stewardship programs in areas of increased pathogen resistancePart VIII: Antimicrobial Stewardship and Various Practice SitesCh 32: Role of Antimicrobial Stewardship in PediatricsCh 33: Antimicrobial Stewardship in the Intensive Care UnitCh 34: Role of Antimicrobial Stewardship in a Community HospitalCh 35: Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT)Ch 36: The Importance of Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Antimicrobial Stewardship: Immersion of Future Healthcare ProfessionalsCh 37: Antimicrobial Stewardship and the Importance of Working with the Government and Pharmaceutical IndustryCh 38: Hospitalist Perspective on the Role of Antimicrobial Stewardship