AURA
Antimicrobial stewardship in aged care
Antimicrobial stewardship in aged care is important to improve the safe and appropriate use of antimicrobials and decrease the risk of antimicrobial resistance for older people.
Importance of aged care for improved antimicrobial prescribing
A new report on dispensing of antimicrobials under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Repatriation PBS found that almost 75% of aged care home residents received 1 antimicrobial prescription in 2023, and an 11.1% increase in antimicrobial dispensing for these residents from 2022 to 2023.
Successive Aged Care National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey reports show that antimicrobials are being used in aged care for conditions where they are not required. Almost 1 in 5 antimicrobials in the aged care setting are prescribed for use “when required”, which may lead to unnecessarily long treatment duration and increase the risk of antimicrobial resistance. A large number of antimicrobial prescriptions in residential aged care services were for the prevention of infections, which is concerning because antimicrobials are rarely recommended to prevent infection in this setting.
New Guidance resource
To support implementation of antimicrobial stewardship in aged care organisations, the Commission has released the Guidance for implementation of the Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Clinical Care Standard in aged care resource.
2024Guide, user guide or guidelinesFind out more about the Antimicrobial Stewardship Clinical Care Standard and the other resources available.
