Clinicians have worked tirelessly to combat this worldwide problem within healthcare facilities, and have made great progress. Stewardship initiatives that carefully optimize the use of antibiotics are a powerful example of this success – credited with greatly reducing the use of antibiotics, improving patient outcomes and decreasing costs. But we do not yet fully understand how they work. We have witnessed improved outcomes, but do not have the data to systematically document their effect on patient care. So, to build upon the progress we have made, we must conduct strong and thoughtful research.
As clinicians, we routinely witness the benefits that stewardship initiatives bring to patient care. Whether we see it in the eyes of a patient or through a chart in an annual report, we know the true value of these programs. However, as more hospitals and health providers take an active role in controlling the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, we must demonstrate the full value of these stewardship initiatives to the system as a whole, as well as the benefits of customizing programs for specific patient populations. The strongest way to do that is to build a body of evidence through research.
Research is not always easily incorporated into the hospital setting. The needed infrastructure and funding can be difficult to justify. But it is vital to provide fine-tuned, data-driven results. For example, stewardship programs have been shown to help reduce length of stay, reduce side-effects from other medications and improve some patient outcomes in certain settings. Yet we need to bolster these data by exploring the most effective mechanisms of stewardship and intensifying our focus on clinical outcomes. If hospitals and health systems were provided clear proof of these critical benefits, more stewardship initiatives would be launched. This would ensure that the field evolves and moves forward beyond just reducing overuse of antibiotics.
The first step in this movement is to find the right people. Lack of time and training are two of the biggest issues that stewards must overcome to be able to successfully research outcomes. Staff will need to be armed with tools and knowledge to prepare them for this challenge. Ensuring that skilled researchers are available to study these programs will allow us to gather crucial data. Not only will we better understand how stewardship initiatives are impacting patient care and the system as a whole, but we can also find ways to implement these programs more easily in hospitals and healthcare systems.
Stewardship programs have already proven their monetary worth, yet hospitals face various barriers in implementing them. They have been met with resistance from some providers who bristle at the idea of someone challenging their authority to prescribe what they believe their patients need. Finding better ways to partner with providers will help to expand the influence of stewardship initiatives worldwide. If they aren’t easy to implement, they are unlikely to be utilized by hospitals – even those that need them most. Research will help us develop new, creative and streamlined ways to make it easier for providers to prescribe antibiotics correctly. We will also be able to better assess these programs and determine the best approach for various hospitals with differing needs. With stewardship programs, we know we can change antibiotic usage, and we have some data to show that we can improve outcomes and beat this resistance. But we don’t yet have a compelling way to make all this easier for providers. We have to research how to find those ways.
Stewardship initiatives are one of the most powerful and immediate tools we have in the fight against antibiotic resistance. If we want these programs to remain effective and to grow, we must make research a priority. It is the only way we can better understand what works, what doesn’t work and why. Once hospitals and health leaders embrace this goal, the benefits will be made much clearer and take us even further in our fight against antibiotic resistance.
The views, opinions and positions expressed within these guest posts are those of the author alone and do not represent those of Becker’s Hospital Review/Becker’s Healthcare. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The copyright of this content belongs to the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with them.
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
