Adoption of a national antimicrobial guide (SWAB-ID) in the Netherlands

The World Health Organization (WHO) has signaled the emergence of antimicrobial resistance as a major health threat for the coming decade. To help contain antimicrobial resistance, better use of current agents is essential and a decrease in inappropriate use of antibiotics is imperative [1, 2]. A major strategy being advocated as part of the efforts to control antimicrobial resistance is antimicrobial stewardship. A local, evidence-based hospital antimicrobial guide is an essential element of a stewardship program [3]. However, the lack of generally accepted professional standards for such guides results in variable quality between hospitals. Furthermore, previous studies have noted that resources and expertise required to develop a valid local guide based on the latest evidence are not always available at a local level, so local adaption of a national guide provides a cost-effective approach to a rigorous local guide development .