ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT: DREAMLAND OF CLINICAL PHARMACISTS?

Abstract

Antibiotic prescription and antimicrobial resistance are parallel to each other. Misuse of antibiotics can increase health system costs and more importantly, morbidity and mortality, due to the emerging multi-drug resistant pathogens. Implementation of antibiotic stewardship programs in the hospital wards and intensive care units are a well-known action, however, there is an attention deficit regarding this activity in emergency department, the portal of admission to the wards. Therefore, making a specific plan with leadership of clinical pharmacists is highly desirable. Key words: Antimicrobial resistance, Emergency department, Clinical pharmacists