Stewardship Programs to Advance Implementation of Rational Antimicrobial Control Strategies in ICUs

Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are vulnerable. They often develop (suspicion of) an infection. As a result, antibiotics are intensively used in the ICU. This leads to selection of more resistant bacteria and increased use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. That is why careful use of antibiotics in an ICU is crucial.

Antibiotic stewardship programs (ASPs) have been developed for the hospital as a whole to optimise antimicrobial use. However, the evidence for the effectiveness of ASPs in the ICU is insufficiently clear. It is also unknown to what extent ASPs have been implemented in Dutch ICUs.

Aim

This project aims:

1. To determine the evidence for effectiveness of ASPs in the ICU through a systematic review of the literature.
2. To map ASPs used on Dutch ICs through a survey study.
3. To compare the results of parts 1 and 2 in a gap analysis and formulate recommendations for an implementation route.