1 Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031
Alongside infection prevention and control, antimicrobials are fundamental to modern healthcare. Indeed, modern surgery, obstetrics and neonatal care, intensive care and management of malignancy are impossible without them. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is aimed at improving the safety and efficacy of prescribing these vital drugs and has received growing attention in recent years. However, evidence to support and improve AMS for children has lagged behind efforts directed at adults. Compared with the literature on adult AMS, research on paediatric AMS is lacking, with few high-quality studies on interventions to improve care. This situation creates challenges for child healthcare providers and AMS program leaders, and more evidence is required to prioritise and improve care.
In this presentation I will summarise current evidence and challenges in the field of paediatric AMS and outline opportunities to improve the use of antibiotics for children and promote a safer future for the whole community.