Stakeholders involved in reducing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) agree that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, it will take a multi-pronged approach, involving different key stakeholders with roles in their respective areas of expertise, to piece together the elements into a patchwork approach to reducing antimicrobial resistance.
For example, for infectious disease clinicians, antimicrobial stewardship is an important component in their understanding of antimicrobial resistance as they continue to strive to use antimicrobials wisely to care for patients and, in collaboration with colleagues, strive to Realize Esther.
“Stewardship is undoubtedly a top concern for the American Society of Infectious Disease Pharmacists. The importance of antimicrobial stewardship cannot be underestimated,” said Sam Aitken, PharmD, an infectious disease clinical pharmacist specialist and adjunct clinical professor of pharmacy at the University of Michigan.
In addition to his work at the University of Michigan, Aitken is the president-elect of the Society of Infectious Disease Pharmacists (SIDP) and will assume his new role in November. He reinforced the organization’s traditional role in antimicrobial stewardship and antimicrobial resistance work.
“We are probably best known for antimicrobial stewardship and I want to continue to emphasize that,” Aitken said.
Socioeconomics to inform antimicrobial resistance strategies at the local level
Aitken is competing for a multi-pronged approach to reducing antimicrobial resistance and says this needs to be done on a country-by-country basis, based on the needs of local populations.
“It (antimicrobial stewardship) is really just one aspect of it. There are infection prevention measures that need to be strengthened and improved in the United States and around the world,” Aitken said. “Certainly in developing countries, there will be some unique solutions.” solutions, but these solutions are not necessarily suitable for the United States. So, we need to address poverty at its root; we need to address food inequality from the ground up—things that you might not think are intrinsically linked to microbial resistance absolutely need to be addressed. This is a complex solution that requires many people from all walks of life to work together. “
At the recent World Congress on Antimicrobial Resistance in Philadelphia, clinicians, industry representatives and other key stakeholders came together to discuss this critical issue.
Aitken participated in a fireside chat on reducing health disparities through enhanced antimicrobial stewardship. He cited one of the world’s major flashpoints, the war in Ukraine, as an example of how antimicrobial resistance can occur within a specific geographic location, but the effects of multidrug-resistant infections can spread across borders.
“There are a lot of people injured in that war and they are suffering from infections that are difficult to treat,” Aitken said. “So it really limits our ability to do medical research; if we can’t find a solution to the antimicrobial resistance crisis method. “
infect Discussed antimicrobial stewardship issues with Aitken at the World Congress on Antimicrobial Resistance and the work he hopes to do during his term as SIDP Chair.