What is Antibiotic Stewardship?
Antibiotic stewardship means using antibiotics carefully and responsibly to make sure they continue to work now and in the future. Stewardship programs help make sure antibiotics are only used when truly needed, that the right medicine is chosen, and that it’s given at the right dose and for the right amount of time. This helps people get better while also reducing the risk of side effects, resistance, and the spread of tough-to-treat infections.
Antibiotics have saved countless lives, but over time, their overuse and misuse have caused some bacteria to become resistant. This is known as antibiotic resistance—a growing global health threat that could make common infections harder or even impossible to treat.
By using antibiotics wisely, we can protect ourselves and others and help ensure these critical medicines continue to work for future generations.
Antibiotic Stewardship in Arkansas
Arkansas is one of the top states in the country for antibiotic use. In 2024, Arkansas had the 6th highest rate of antibiotic prescriptions in the U.S., with enough antibiotics given out for every person in the state to get at least one prescription (1,014 antibiotic prescriptions for 1,000 people). Because antibiotics are prescribed so often in our state, it’s important to use them only when they’re really needed.
Most antibiotics that people take are prescribed in doctor’s offices, clinics, or urgent care—not in hospitals. But studies show that about 1 in 4 of these prescriptions aren’t needed. One common example is taking an antibiotic for a virus, like a cold or the flu. Antibiotics don’t work against viruses, and taking them when you don’t need them can cause side effects and make antibiotics less effective in the future.
The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is committed to using antibiotics wisely in our state. ADH leaders have shown their strong support for this effort. The Antibiotic Stewardship Program is working with partners across Arkansas to promote and improve responsible antibiotic use.
Below is information about antibiotic stewardship for both patients and healthcare professionals, including training resources.
Stewardship Trainings & Resources
Below are resources to support the responsible use of antibiotics among both healthcare professionals and the public. Whether you are a clinician seeking evidence-based prescribing guidelines or a member of the public wanting to learn how to use antibiotics safely, these resources are designed to inform, empower, and support everyone in the fight against antibiotic resistance.
What antibiotic stewardship trainings are available?
Continuing education is available at the following resources:
- CDC Antibiotic Stewardship Course (Free; CDC Train Login Required)
- Stanford Antimicrobial Stewardship: (Free)
- Infectious Disease Society of America Antimicrobial Stewardship Curricula (Purchase Required)
Certifications in Antibiotic Stewardship:
What other resources available for healthcare providers?
What is stewardship in outpatient care and dental health settngs?
- The Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship (CDC)
- Clinician, Facility, and Health Systems Checklist—Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship
- A Commitment to Improving Antibiotic Use (Commitment poster)
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Toolkit to Improve Antibiotic Use in Ambulatory Care (AHRQ)
- Dental Antibiotic Stewardship
- Treating Patient with Dental Pain and Swelling (CDC)
- Checklist for Antibiotic Prescribing in Dentistry (CDC)
- American Dental Association Antibiotic Stewardship (ADA)
- Association for Dental Safety Antibiotic Stewardship for Oral Health (ADS)
- Antibiotic Stewardship Considerations in Dentistry Presentation (ADS)
What is stewardship in acute care settings?
- The Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship
- SHEA/IDSA Clinical Practice Guidelines for Implementing an Antibiotic Stewardship Program
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Toolkit to Improve Antibiotic Use in Acute Care Hospitals
- National Healthcare Safety Network CMS Requirements for Acute Care Hospitals
What is stewardship in long term care settings?
Patient Resources for Antibiotic Stewardship
The CDC has many resources available for patients including the following highlighted examples:
- Viruses or Bacteria—What’s got you sick?
- Improving Antibiotic Use
- Antibiotics Aren’t Always the Answer Fact Sheet
- You’ve Been Prescribed an Antibiotic
- Do I Really Need Antibiotics?
- What are Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria?
- Do Antibiotics Have Side Effects?
- Antibiotics Can Cause Harm
References:
- Sanchez GV, Fleming-Dutra KE, Roberts RM, Hicks LA. Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship. MMWR Recomm Rep 2016;65(No. RR-6):1–12.
- World Health Organization. (2023, November 13). Anmicrobial resistance. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Antimicrobial Resistance and Patient Safety Protal—Outpatient Antibiotic Use: Retail Pharmacy Prescription Data. https://arpsp.cdc.gov/profile/antibiotic-use/all-classes.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Antibiotic Use in the United States. https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/hcp/dataresearch/antibiotic-prescribing.html.