Use of guidelines
Quality statement 2 - Antimicrobial Stewardship Clinical Care Standard
When a patient is prescribed an antimicrobial, this is done in accordance with the current Therapeutic Guidelines or evidence-based, locally endorsed guidelines and the antimicrobial formulary.
Purpose
To ensure that the most appropriate antimicrobial treatment is given. That is, to ensure that the appropriate spectrum microbial of activity, active ingredient, dose, frequency and route of administration, and duration of therapy is chosen.
For patients
If you are prescribed a medicine for an infection, your clinician will discuss which medicine is best for you, based on national or local recommendations. Your clinician should also consider any allergies and other health conditions you may have, as well as the cause of your infection.
For clinicians
Prescribe an antimicrobial according to the current Therapeutic Guidelines or locally endorsed guidelines, including the appropriate active ingredient, dose, formulation, route and frequency of administration, and duration for the patient’s clinical condition.
Prescribe, dispense and administer antimicrobials in line with local antimicrobial formularies and restrictions, where available, including those applied to broad-spectrum antimicrobials.
Consider the individual patient’s characteristics, such as age, weight, renal function, allergies, other medicines prescribed and other health conditions.
For health service organisations
Ensure clinicians have access to and use the current Therapeutic Guidelines and evidence-based, locally endorsed guidelines when prescribing antimicrobials.
Ensure clinicians have access to and use the local antimicrobial formulary, as required, and that it is evidence based. Monitor adherence with the antimicrobial formulary, including broad-spectrum antimicrobials.
For patients
If you are prescribed a medicine for an infection, your clinician will discuss which medicine is best for you, based on national or local recommendations. Your clinician should also consider any allergies and other health conditions you may have, as well as the cause of your infection.
For clinicians
Prescribe an antimicrobial according to the current Therapeutic Guidelines or locally endorsed guidelines, including the appropriate active ingredient, dose, formulation, route and frequency of administration, and duration for the patient’s clinical condition.
Prescribe, dispense and administer antimicrobials in line with local antimicrobial formularies and restrictions, where available, including those applied to broad-spectrum antimicrobials.
Consider the individual patient’s characteristics, such as age, weight, renal function, allergies, other medicines prescribed and other health conditions.
For health service organisations
Ensure clinicians have access to and use the current Therapeutic Guidelines and evidence-based, locally endorsed guidelines when prescribing antimicrobials.
Ensure clinicians have access to and use the local antimicrobial formulary, as required, and that it is evidence based. Monitor adherence with the antimicrobial formulary, including broad-spectrum antimicrobials.
Quality statement 2 has indicators for local monitoring.
Read Quality statement 3 - Adverse reactions to antimicrobials.
Locally endorsed guidelines - For more information about the requirements of locally endorsed guidelines and antimicrobial formularies, including restriction lists, see page 9 of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Clinical Care Standard.