Short-term effects of antimicrobial stewardship programs on antibiotics usage, clinical outcomes, and multidrug resistant organisms in the post COVID-19 era

This study evaluated the short-term effects of Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASP) on antibiotic usage, clinical outcomes, and MDR organisms’ pattern in the post-COVID-19 era. The study involved 301 adult patients treated with oral or intravenous antibiotics from May 1, 2021, to April 30, 2022. Results showed a 25.2% drop in antibiotic usage post-ASP, longer hospital stays, and increased MDR pathogens. However, after separating post-ASP into two three-month periods, MDROs numbers slightly decreased. Further research is needed to assess ASP’s long-term impact on MDR infections rates and specific patient group outcomes.