Health System and Tele-Antimicrobial Stewardship: The Role of Building Networks

Zahra Kassamali Escobar; Nathan R Shively

doi:10.1016/j.idc.2023.07.005

Health System and Tele-Antimicrobial Stewardship: The Role of Building Networks

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2023 Dec;37(4):873-900. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2023.07.005. Epub 2023 Aug 30.

Authors

Zahra Kassamali Escobar¹, Nathan R Shively²

Affiliations

¹ University of Washington Center for Stewardship in Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA; Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, 825 Eastlake Avenue, Mail Stop G5-900, P.O. Box 19023, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
² Division of Infectious Diseases, Allegheny Health Network, 320 E North Avenue, Fourth Floor, East Wing, Suite 406, Pittsburgh, PA 15212, USA. Electronic address: Nathan.Shively@ahn.org.

PMID: 37657974
DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2023.07.005

Abstract

Tele-antimicrobial stewardship programs (tele-ASPs) use technology and remote access to resources and clinical expertise to expand antimicrobial services within and outside of health systems. Models of tele-ASPs are workforce multiplying and workforce extending, depending on how they are structured. Building rapport and strong interpersonal networks are essential for successful ASPs. The available evidence suggests that an optimal model for tele-ASP includes hands-on involvement from remote infectious disease (ID) expertise with implementation by local pharmacists. However, this model remains limited by the available time and cost of ID-trained specialists.

Keywords: Antimicrobial stewardship; Community hospitals; Health networks; Tele-ASP; Telehealth.

Publication types

Review