Toolkit

Core element 3: Drug Expertise

Page last reviewed September 20, 2022

A pharmacist, usually one who is on-site, provides the leadership and expertise for the antibiotic stewardship program. When possible, having a physician leader is helpful to support the pharmacist. Leaders of stewardship programs can expand their knowledge and experience through a variety of educational programs and through participation in multi-hospital stewardship collaboratives. See below for additional opportunities to expand one’s knowledge in the areas that are needed to implement, manage, and improve antimicrobial stewardship programs.

Examples of implementation strategies:

• Appoint a pharmacist leader, ideally someone who is on-site either full or part time. Consider having stewardship as part of the pharmacist job description and ensure there is dedicated time to spend on developing and maintaining stewardship programs.
• Appoint a physician leader to provide support to the antibiotic stewardship programs, ideally someone who is on-site either full or part time.
• Offer access to training courses on antibiotic stewardship to help develop local expertise.
• Seek additional expertise by joining multi-hospital improvement collaboratives or through remote consultation (e.g. telemedicine).