Antimicrobial Stewardship, Volume 2

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is currently posing a global health risk of epidemic proportions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 2 million persons in the United States are infected by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, resulting in 23000 deaths yearly, with an estimated 700000 deaths worldwide. In the face of this threat and the lack of new antibiotics, national and international initiatives have been undertaken to develop antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) strategies.Antimicrobial Stewardship is volume 2 in the Developments in Emerging and Existing Infectious Diseases series; volume 1, Emerging Infectious Diseases: Clinical Case Studies, was published in 2014. Four editors and 63 contributing authors from 6 continents, authoritative experts in the field, joined to share their fund of knowledge with the world and publish what was described by Prof. Mario Poljak, ESCMID (European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases) President as “state-of-the-art.” This volume was initiated by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Study Group for Antibiotic Policies. It is designed to provide a global picture of the state of AMR (clinical and laboratory) and offer hands-on guidance to young and experienced healthcare professionals developing AMS programs in all parts of the world.