Study Identifies Common Barriers in Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs

​​A study published in the January 2019 issue of Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology identified barriers in antimicrobial stewardship programs that contribute to the overuse of antibiotics in long-term care facilities. Analyzing 381 stakeholder survey responses, the authors identified 19 barriers, grouped into eight domains: knowledge, skills, environmental context and resources, professional role or identity, beliefs about consequences, social influences, emotions, and reinforcements. Barriers included gaps in knowledge and skills; lack of resources to guide decision-making; poor documentation and communication of symptoms; absence of clear policies and procedures; lack of acceptance of best practice recommendations; fears that an infection will be missed; and common practices that reinforce ongoing treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria.