How Far We’ve Come, How Far We Have to Go: a Review of Advances in Antimicrobial Stewardship in the Veterans Health Administration

• Authors: Aditi Ramakrishnan, Emory University; Payal K Patel, University of Michigan Medical School
• Journal Title: Current Treatment Options in Infectious Diseases
• Volume: Volume 12, Number 3
• Publisher: Springer (part of Springer Nature) | 2020-09-01, Pages 275-284
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s40506-020-00221-w
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery
• Keywords: Antimicrobial stewardship; Veterans Health Administration; Multidisciplinary; Clostridioides difficile infections

Abstract

Purpose of review This review highlights several of the successes in antimicrobial stewardship seen in the largest integrated healthcare system in the USA, the Veterans Health Administration. Recent findings Since deploying antimicrobial stewardship programs on a national scale in the Veterans Health Administration, decreases in overall antimicrobial use and Clostridioides difficile infections have been observed. Concurrent infection prevention initiatives have also contributed to these improvements in the Veterans Health Administration. Summary By embracing multidisciplinary stewardship teams, focusing on education and research in the field of antimicrobial stewardship, and leveraging the vast data available within the national system, the Veterans Health Administration has made substantial advances in antimicrobial stewardship.