What does AMS mean in LABORATORY

Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is a medical practice that promotes the appropriate use of antibiotics. It serves to minimize the development and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, while also reducing unnecessary exposures to antibiotics.

AMS helps ensure the proper use of antibiotics in order to maximize their clinical benefit and reduce any potential harm. This ensures that high-risk patients receive correct antibiotic therapy, while minimizing inappropriate prescribing and risk of adverse effects or resistance.

Examples include quality improvement initiatives such as antimicrobial restriction protocols, interventions to change prescribing behavior, surveillance systems for monitoring antibiotic usage, antimicrobial de-escalation strategies, patient education about appropriate antimicrobial use for self-treatment, and optimization strategies regarding drug dosing intervals.

Antimicrobial stewardship programs involve multiple stakeholders including pharmacists, physicians, nurses, information technology personnel, hospital administrators and public health representatives. Each has an important role to play in ensuring proper use of antibiotics throughout healthcare settings.

Benefits associated with AMS include improved patient outcomes due to more targeted treatments; decreased rates of drug-related adverse events; improved cost effectiveness; reduced microbial resistance; greater patient safety; increased patient satisfaction; reduced hospital lengths of stay; improved clinical efficiency; and better long term care management.