B1 Non-refereed article in a scientific journal
Establishing core competencies for antimicrobial stewardship teams: a consensus development using the modified Delphi technique—an European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Study Group for Antimicrobial Stewardship position paper
Authors: Alves, Joana; Schouten, Jeroen; Thursky, Karin; Nir Paz, Ran; Rello, Jordi; Chien Lye, David; Kostyanev, Tomislav; Strahilevitz, Jacob; de With, Katja; Barac, Aleksandra; Gülten, Ezgi; Ashiru-Oredope, Diane; Caruana, Giorgiana; Peiffer-Smadja, Nathan; Murri, Rita; Catteau, Lucy; Beović, Bojana; on behalf of the AMS Competencies Study Group
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Publication year: 2025
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection
Volume: 31
Issue: 8
First page : 1313
Last page: 1320
ISSN: 1198-743X
eISSN: 1469-0691
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2025.04.035
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Partially Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2025.04.035
Objectives: This study aimed to identify and develop a standard set of competencies needed for members of an antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) team.
Methods: A panel of experts in AMS utilized a survey based on a modified Delphi technique to establish consensus on AMS competencies.
Results: The authors identified 88 competencies covering 15 domains with strong agreement by 58 international experts. The identified domains were: the objectives of AMS; management of infection; microbiology diagnostics; pharmacology of antimicrobial agents; general principles of antibiotic use; the structure and the position of AMS; antimicrobial stewardship interventions; AMS in special settings; surveillance and monitoring; behaviour change and communication; infection prevention and control; quality management and patient safety; information technology (IT) support; communication with patients and general public and governance/policy framework. The consensus-based list of competencies was ratified by the European Study Group for Antimicrobial Stewardship Executive Committee.
Conclusions: The identified competencies can be used as a tool in planning of AMS training and to develop and optimize AMS programmes worldwide.
