Antimicrobial stewardship

Resources for prescribers

In Canada, about 90% of all human antimicrobial consumption occurs in the community. Up to 50% of antibiotics prescribed in the community are unnecessary or inappropriate.

Antimicrobial stewardship principles can help improve antibiotic use in the community and reduce the risks of adverse events, C. difficile, and antimicrobial resistance. Approximately 30% of hospitalized patients receive antibiotics on any given day. Following good antimicrobial stewardship principles has the direct potential to improve patient safety, improve patient outcomes, reduce rates of C. difficile and antimicrobial resistance, and improve patient flow.

Use the following resources when addressing antimicrobial stewardship in both community and institutional settings.

Resource Description Organization Access
Community Antimicrobial Stewardship Trends in antibiotic resistance and antibiotic utilization in BC. Information about the wise use of antibiotics BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) Visit website
Therapeutics Initiative: Research and publications Compilation of drug evidence presented through medical reports, Therapeutics Letter newsletters, systematic reviews University of British Columbia Visit website
Bugs & Drugs: Antibiotics General recommendations for appropriate antibiotic use Alberta Health Services Visit website
Do Bugs Need Drugs? Community program for wise use of antibiotics Alberta Health Services Visit website
Recommendations and resources, by specialties Recommendations and resources for clinicians Choosing Wisely Canada Visit website
Pathways Quick access to referral information, patient and clinician resources Pathways Visit website
Antimicrobial Stewardship for Health Care Professionals Clinical tools and resources on incorporating antimicrobial stewardship into practice BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) Visit website
Antibiotic Wise: Antibiotic Resources for Health Care Professionals Resources on correct use of antibiotics, addressing superbugs and antibiotic resistance BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) Visit website
Antimicrobial Stewardship and Resistance Information on the pan-Canadian antimicrobial resistance action plan, building the business case, World Antimicrobial Awareness Week Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada (AMMI Canada) Visit website
Antibiotic (antimicrobial) resistance Educational resources on antibiotic (antimicrobial) resistance, services, publications, consultations, initiatives led by the federal government Public Health Agency of Canada Visit website
Antibiograms Antimicrobial susceptibility testing results of the most commonly reported pathogens LifeLabs Visit website
ASPIRES Treatment recommendations, antimicrobials, and antibiograms Vancouver Coastal Health Visit website
Antibiotic Prescribing and Use in the U.S. American resources on antimicrobial stewardship, antibiotic use and prescribing, patient education, health-care professional training and resources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Visit website

Tools and toolkits

Resource Description Organization Access
Metrics for evaluating antibiotic use and prescribing in outpatient settings Journal article in JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance publication University of Oxford Read web article
The Cold Standard Toolkit for using antibiotics wisely for the management of respiratory tract infections Choosing Wisely Canada Visit website
Drop the Label Antibiotic de-labelling tool Drop the Label Visit website
Prescribing Tool: Viral Prescription Pad (Adult) Checklist outlining why an antibiotic was not prescribed for viral infection - for adults Choosing Wisely Canada Download PDF
Prescribing Tool: Viral Prescription Pad (Pediatric) Checklist outlining why an antibiotics was not prescribed for viral infection - for children Choosing Wisely Canada Download PDF
Prescribing Tool: Viral Prescription Pad (EMR integration) Integrate the Viral Prescription Pad and Delayed Prescription tools in existing electronic medical record (EMR) Choosing Wisely Canada Visit website

Patient resources

Resource Description Organization Access
Do you think you need antibiotics? Infographic with five questions to discuss with a health-care provider Public Health Ontario Download PDF

Request a personalized report

Understand your own prescribing habits and see how you compare with other prescribers

See which reports are available