The need for a national framework to optimise surgical antimicrobial use in Australia

Abstract

Background: Surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) is the most common indication for antimicrobial prescribing in Australian hospitals, and is associated with the lowest rates of appropriateness (∼50%). The National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship (NCAS) is a ‘One Health’ research program supporting quality antimicrobial use and implementation of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). There has been little improvement in appropriate SAP prescribing despite national prescribing guidelines and established hospital accreditation AMS frameworks.