Health and Social Care

What is Antimicrobial Stewardship and why does it matter to us alll?

November 5, 2026 by admin No Comments | Category health & social care

A long time ago, in a laboratory in North West London, a young scientist from a farm near Darvel in Ayrshire, Scotland, made a discovery that would change healthcare forever. 

That scientist was Alexander Fleming. He noticed a mould growing on one of his laboratory plates that stopped bacteria from growing. He called this mould penicillin, the world’s first widely used antibiotic. 

Antibiotics are medicines that fight bacterial infections. They are part of a larger group of medicines called antimicrobials. This group also includes medicines that fight viruses, fungi and parasites. 

Antibiotics help treat infections, make surgery safer, support cancer treatment and protect vulnerable people from serious illnesses. Because of antibiotics, many fewer people die from infections than they did 100 years ago. They have helped people around the world live longer and healthier lives. 

However, when Sir Alexander Fleming accepted his Nobel Prize in 1945, he warned that antibiotics could stop working if they were not used properly. He said: 

“The time may come when penicillin can be bought by anyone in the shops. Then there is the danger that people may not use it properly, exposing microbes to amounts that do not kill them and making them resistant.”

Nearly 100 years later, this warning has become real. Germs and microbes are becoming resistant to important medicines. This means infections are becoming harder to treat. It threatens healthcare, food production, the environment and many parts of everyday life. This is a problem that affects all of us, wherever we live. 

The good news is that there are things we can all do to slow down antimicrobial resistance and help keep these medicines working. This is called Antimicrobial Stewardship. 

What is Antimicrobial Stewardship? 

Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) means taking good care of antimicrobial medicines. 

It is a shared effort between healthcare professionals and the public to make sure these medicines are used safely, correctly and only when needed. 

Healthcare professionals support AMS by making sure the right patient gets the right medicine, at the right dose, at the right time, in the right way and for the right length of time. 

AMS is about using antimicrobials wisely today so they will still work in the future. 

AMS is not about refusing treatment. It is about making sure people get the best care possible while avoiding the unnecessary use of antimicrobials, which can make resistance worse. 

What should we do? 

Many people think antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is only a problem for hospitals and healthcare staff. In fact, it affects everyone. 

Imagine a world where: 

• Common infections, such as urine infections or chest infections, become difficult to treat. 

• Everyday operations, like hip replacements or gall bladder surgery, become much riskier. 

• Cancer treatment becomes more dangerous because infections cannot be controlled easily. 

• Small cuts and injuries can turn into serious, life-threatening problems. 

This is not a world anyone would want to live in. 

Not all infections need antibiotics. Colds, flu and other illnesses caused by viruses do not get better with antibiotics. 

We all have a responsibility not to ask for antibiotics when they are not needed. When healthcare professionals advise rest, fluids and treatment for symptoms, it is important to trust their advice. 

Healthcare professionals are not stopping people from getting antibiotics. Antibiotics simply do not work against viruses and could do more harm than good if used unnecessarily. 

When antibiotics are prescribed, it is important to take them exactly as instructed: 

• Follow the instructions carefully. 

• Do not share them with anyone else. 

• Do not keep them for a future illness. 

• Do not throw them in household bins or flush them down sinks or toilets. Return unused medicines to a pharmacy. 

• Get advice if your symptoms get worse. 

Healthcare professionals can also help by making sure prescribing decisions are based on evidence, focused on the patient’s needs and regularly reviewed. 

The saying “prevention is better than cure” has been around for hundreds of years and is especially important today. Every infection we prevent is one less chance that antibiotics may be needed. 

You can help prevent infections by: 

• Washing your hands regularly. 

• Keeping vaccinations up to date. 

• Cleaning surfaces that are touched often. 

• Following good food hygiene practices. 

• Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then putting the tissue in the bin. 

• Staying at home when you are unwell to help stop illnesses spreading. 

We’re all in this together! 

AMS works best when patients, families, healthcare professionals, teachers, policy makers and communities all work together. 

These partnerships help strengthen the fight against AMR. Thinking about AMR as a global problem can sometimes feel overwhelming, but good stewardship shows that small actions really do make a difference. 

Every good prescribing decision, every informed conversation and every infection prevented helps keep antibiotics working for future generations. 

What does the Future hold? 

AMS is not just a healthcare programme. It is a commitment from all of society to protect one of the most valuable tools in modern medicine. 

AMR is a serious challenge, but AMS gives us practical ways to help. Every person can play a part. 

Taking care of antibiotics is not only about treating infections today. It is about protecting healthcare and saving lives in the future. 

Let’s get it right for every person, every time. 

Comments