Table Of ContentAntimicrobial Stewardship 
in Australian Health Care
2018
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Antimicrobial Stewardship 
in Australian Health Care
2018
Acknowledgements
Antimicrobial Stewardship in Australian Health Care  • Professor Graeme Nimmo – Pathology
2018 has been developed through the contributions  Queensland, Queensland Health (particularly
of many individuals and organisations who are  Chapter 9)
committed to improving antimicrobial use in  • Professor Lisa Pulver – NPS MedicineWise
hospitals and reducing the risk of harm to patients  (particularly Chapters 7 and 10)
from inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing. 
• Professor Debra Rowett – NPS MedicineWise
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality  (particularly Chapters 7 and 10)
in Health Care wishes to thank the following  • Professor Karin Thursky – National Centre
contributing authors for their expertise and time  for Antimicrobial Stewardship (particularly
given to the writing of this publication: Chapter 4)
• Dr Tara Anderson – Infectious Diseases Physician • Professor John Turnidge – Australian
and Clinical Microbiologist, Medical Advisor Commission on Safety and Quality in Health
–Infection Prevention and Control, Royal Care (particularly Chapters 1 and 3)
Hobart Hospital, and Specialist Medical Advisor  • Dr Helen Van Gessel – Albany Hospital
–Tasmanian Infection Prevention and Control (particularly Chapter 2)
Unit (particularly Chapter 2) • Dr Morgyn Warner – SA Pathology, SA Health
• Dr Noleen Bennett – National Centre for (particularly Chapter 1)
Antimicrobial Stewardship (particularly • Dr Jeanie Yoo – NPS MedicineWise (particularly
Chapter 12) Chapter 10).
• Associate Professor Kirsty Buising – National
The Commission also wishes to extend its thanks to 
Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship
the following individuals who have provided their 
(particularly Chapters 3 and 6)
considered advice in the review of the content of this 
• Clinical Associate Professor Susan Benson book:
–PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Western
• Dr Philippa Binns – public health physician and
Australian Department of Health and University 
general practitioner
of Western Australia (particularly Chapter 9)
• Professor Chris Del Mar – Centre for Research in
• Dr Celia Cooper – SA Pathology, SA Health
Evidence-Based Practice, Bond University
(particularly Chapters 5 and 8)
• Dr Kylie Easton – NPS MedicineWise
• Dr Jonathan Dartnell – NPS MedicineWise
(particularly Chapters 7 and 10) • Associate Professor Thomas Gottlieb - Senior Staff
Specialist, Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Concord
• Ms Margaret Duguid – Australian Commission on
Hospital
Safety and Quality in Health Care (contribution
to all Chapters) • Dr Malene Hansen – Centre for Research in
Evidence-Based Practice, Bond University
• Conjoint Associate Professor John Ferguson
–Hunter New England Local Health District • Ms Dorothy Harrison – consumer representative
(particularly Chapter 9) reviewer
• Ms Fiona Gotterson – Australian Commission on • Ms Aine Heaney – NPS MedicineWise
Safety and Quality in Health Care (particularly • Ms Elaine Lum – Institute of Health and
Chapters 3, 5 and 12) Biomedical Innovation,  Faculty of Health,
• Dr David Kong – Ballarat Health Services and Queensland University of Technology
Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Monash • Dr Amanda McCullough – Centre for Research in
University (particularly Chapter 11) Evidence-Based Practice, Bond University
• Associate Professor David Looke – Infectious
• Associate Professor Owen Robinson -  Infectious
Diseases Physician and Clinical Microbiologist,
Diseases Physician, Royal Perth Hospital
Princess Alexandra Hospital; and Associate
• Ms Vanessa Simpson – NPS MedicineWise
Professor, University of Queensland (particularly
Chapter 6) • Dr Andrew Staib - Emergency Medicine,
Princess Alexandra Hospital
• Dr Clair Sullivan - Consultant Endocrinologist and
Medical Informatician, Princess Alexandra Hospital.
    iii
A number of Commission staff were also involved in 
the writing and review of this publication, and the 
Commission wishes to acknowledge: 
• Ms Debbie Carter
• Professor Marilyn Cruickshank
• Dr Nicola Dunbar
• Dr Robert Herkes
• Ms Eliza McEwin
• Adjunct Professor Kathy Meleady
• Adjunct Professor Debora Picone AM
• Ms Naomi Poole
• Ms Lucia Tapsall
• Mr Michael Wallace.
In addition, the Commission wishes to acknowledge 
the members of the Society of Hospital Pharmacists 
of Australia Infectious Diseases Committee of 
Specialty Practice for their contribution in reviewing 
this publication; and the staff of Biotext for their 
expert review, editing and design services.
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Contents
Acknowledgements    iii
Summary      1
Key issues    3
The challenge    3
The response    3
Australian framework for AMS    3
Essential elements of antimicrobial stewardship    3
This publication    4
Aim    4
Structure     4
Chapter 1: Evidence for antimicrobial stewardship      7
Acronyms and abbreviations    10
1.1  Introduction    11
1.2  Challenge and impact of antimicrobial resistance    12
1.2.1  Association between antimicrobial use and resistance    12
1.2.2  Consequences of antimicrobial resistance    13
1.3  Australian framework for antimicrobial stewardship    14
1.3.1  National standards and guidelines    14
1.3.2  National Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy    17
1.3.3  Antimicrobial stewardship in the states and territories    17
1.3.4  Therapeutic Guidelines    17
1.3.5  Surveillance of antimicrobial use and resistance in Australia     18
1.3.6  Education and awareness raising    19
1.3.7  Antimicrobial stewardship research    20
1.3.8  Professional societies and organisations    20
1.4  Antimicrobial use    21
1.4.1  Factors contributing to unnecessary and inappropriate antimicrobial use    21
1.4.2  Antimicrobial use in Australia    21
1.4.3  Harmful effects of antimicrobial use    21
1.5  Antimicrobial stewardship    22
1.5.1  Effective antimicrobial stewardship    22
1.5.2  Evidence to support the benefits of antimicrobial stewardship    24
1.5.3  Unintended consequences of antimicrobial stewardship programs    27
References    29
Appendix A:  Examples of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) activities and resources 
in Australian states and territories    34
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Chapter 2: Establishing and sustaining an antimicrobial stewardship program     35
Acronyms and abbreviations    38
2.1  Introduction    39
2.2  Essential elements of antimicrobial stewardship programs    40
2.3  Structure and governance    41
2.3.1  Safety and quality improvement     41
2.3.2  Governance     41
2.3.3  Executive leadership     44
2.3.4  Clinical leadership    44
2.4  Antimicrobial stewardship committee and team     45
2.4.1  Antimicrobial stewardship committee    45
2.4.2  Antimicrobial stewardship team    48
2.5  Antimicrobial stewardship program plan    49
2.5.1  Assessing readiness to implement an antimicrobial stewardship program or intervention    49
2.5.2  Reviewing existing policies and prescribing guidelines     53
2.5.3  Reviewing local data on antimicrobial use and resistance    55
2.5.4  Determining priority areas for antimicrobial stewardship activities    56
2.5.5  Identifying effective interventions    57
2.5.6  Defining measurable goals and outcomes    58
2.5.7  Documenting and implementing the antimicrobial stewardship plan    59
2.5.8  Educating the workforce    59
2.5.9  Developing and implementing a communication plan    60
2.6  Sustaining the antimicrobial stewardship program     60
Resources    61
References    63
Appendix A:  Examples of successful and sustained antimicrobial stewardship programs    66
Chapter 3: Strategies and tools for antimicrobial stewardship      75
Acronyms and abbreviations    78
3.1  Introduction    79
3.2  Prescribing guidelines    81
3.2.1  National guidelines    81
3.2.2  Local guidelines    81
3.2.3  Promoting guideline uptake     82
3.2.4  Tools and resources to support guideline implementation    82
3.2.5  Education and feedback    83
3.2.6  Antimicrobial stewardship care bundles    83
3.3  Formularies and approval systems    83
3.3.1  National formulary    83
3.3.2  State and territory formularies    84
3.3.3  Hospital formularies    84
3.3.4  Antimicrobial approval systems     85
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3.4  Post-prescription reviews     87
3.4.1  Who should perform reviews in hospitals?    87
3.4.2  Which patients should be reviewed?    89
3.4.3  What should be included in the feedback?     89
3.4.4  How should feedback be provided?     89
3.4.5  Prescription review at transitions of care     90
3.4.6  Post-prescription reviews in the community setting    90
3.5  Point-of-care interventions     91
3.5.1  Directing therapy based on results from microscopy and other rapid tests    91
3.5.2  Directing therapy based on culture and susceptibility test results     91
3.5.3  Optimising dosing     91
3.5.4  Limiting toxicity    92
3.5.6  Changing the duration of therapy     92
3.5.7  Switching from intravenous to oral delivery    92
3.5.8  Escalating to formal expert clinical review    93
Resources    94
References    95
Chapter 4: Information technology to support antimicrobial stewardship     99
Acronyms and abbreviations    102
4.1  Introduction    103
4.2  Electronic clinical decision support systems    104
4.2.1  Passive decision support systems and smartphone apps    105
4.2.2  Electronic approval systems    108
4.2.3  Electronic surveillance and infection prevention systems    109
4.2.4  Electronic prescribing and medication management systems    110
4.2.5  Advanced decision support systems    111
4.2.6  Implementing electronic clinical decision support systems for antimicrobial stewardship    112
4.2.7  Electronic clinical decision support in primary care    113
4.3  Data collection and reporting    114
4.4  Telehealth    115
Resources    117
References    118
Chapter 5: Antimicrobial stewardship education for clinicians      123
Acronyms and abbreviations    126
5.1  Introduction    127
5.2  Key elements of antimicrobial stewardship education    128
5.2.1  Audiences    128
5.2.2  Principles of education on antimicrobial stewardship     129
5.2.3  Antimicrobial stewardship competencies and standards     129
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5.2.4  Influence of the pharmaceutical industry    131
5.2.5  Evaluation of educational activities    132
5.3  Antimicrobial stewardship education for different groups and stages    132
5.3.1  Undergraduate training    132
5.3.2  Early-career development    133
5.3.3  Continuing education and professional development    134
5.3.4  Education and training for antimicrobial stewardship teams    136
5.3.5  Specialist training    137
5.4  Education resources    137
5.4.1  Guidelines    137
5.4.2  Websites and online learning resources     137
5.4.3  Educators     138
Resources    139
References    140
Appendix A:  Managing conflicts of interest and relationships with the 
pharmaceutical industry – further reading and links    143
Appendix B:  Example of a ‘Did you know’ email for clinicians     144
Chapter 6: Measuring performance and evaluating antimicrobial 
stewardship programs      147
Acronyms and abbreviations    150
6.1  Introduction    151
6.2  Key elements of antimicrobial stewardship measurement    152
6.2.1  What should be measured?    152
6.2.2  Measurement approaches    152
6.3  Structure measures    152
6.3.1  Hospitals    152
6.3.2  Community    154
6.4  Process measures    154
6.5  Outcome measures    155
6.5.1  Improved patient outcomes    156
6.5.2  Improved patient safety    156
6.5.3  Reduced resistance    156
6.5.4  Reduced costs    157
6.5.5  Qualitative and other related measures of program activity    157
6.6  Balancing measures    157
6.7  Surveillance of antimicrobial use    158
6.7.1  Measuring the volume of antimicrobial use in hospitals    158
6.7.2  Measuring the volume of antimicrobial use in the community    160
6.7.3  Reporting and monitoring use data at the local level    161
6.8  Auditing the quality of antimicrobial prescribing    164
6.8.1  Auditing prescribing in hospitals    164
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Description:1.3 Australian framework for antimicrobial stewardship. 14. 1.3.1 National  are associated with front-end decision support that can be used in AMS,