Governance in antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is part of the quality improvement system to prevent and control infections and to support the AMS programme and sustainable infection prevention control resources.

Leadership and commitment by management in a residential aged care facility will assist the engagement of all key stakeholders

Key stakeholders may include, although not be limited to, residents, their families,  healthcare workers, and pharmacists

Leadership needs to be provided by the residential aged care management through the development and implementation of supporting policy and best practice guidelines

Each residential aged care facility needs to determine its AMS reporting structure

A designated AMS leader must be appointed to monitor the AMS programme implementation, compliance, and ongoing quality improvement

Antimicrobial Stewardship Policy

A residential aged care facility must develop and implement an AMS policy.

The AMS policy should include the following components

Purpose and scope of AMS

Outline the principles of antimicrobial management and evidence-based expert antimicrobial prescribing guidance, such as restrictions and approval processes, and access to laboratory testing results

The application of the AMS programme relevant to the aged care facility

Define the role of management and the designated AMS programme leader, which could be the IPC lead

Outline processes for implementing and monitoring compliance, as well as incorporating feedback and ongoing quality improvement