European society of clinical microbiology and infectious diseases guidelines for antimicrobial stewardship in emergency departments

The European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases has issued a guideline recommending appropriate antibiotic use practices for patients in the emergency department (ED). The guidelines cover topics such as the effectiveness of biomarkers or rapid pathogen tests, taking blood cultures in common infectious syndromes, and the impact of watchful waiting without antibacterial therapy or delayed antibiotic prescribing. The panel conducted a systematic review of relevant literature and conducted literature searches between May 2021 and March 2022. The recommendations are based on low certainty of evidence, leading to weak recommendations or best practice statements. The lack of high-quality studies in the area of antimicrobial stewardship in the ED underscores the need for future research in this field.