Implementation of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at the National Institute of Child Health, Lima, Peru

Abstract

Since the discovery of penicillin and the progressive development of different families of antibiotics, the subsequent emergence of multiple mechanisms of bacterial resistance to the most commonly used antibiotics has been observed (1). Recent studies estimate that, in the hospital setting, 43% of antimicrobial prescriptions are inappropriate (2,3). This is how the World Health Organization (WHO) considers antimicrobial resistance to be one of the main public health threats humanity is facing (1). The inappropriate use of these medications is the primary factor determining the emergence of resistant bacteria.