Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to escalate as a major global health concern, with direct implications for day-to-day clinical decision-making. Increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms—such as ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, MRSA, VRE, and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter—is narrowing therapeutic options and increasing morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. In outpatient and inpatient settings alike, common infections are becoming more difficult to treat.
Empiric therapy is failing more frequently, hospital stays are lengthening, and escalation to last-line antibiotics is occurring earlier in the disease course. Contributing factors include inappropriate antibiotic initiation, unnecessary prolonged durations, use of broad-spectrum agents when narrower options suffice, suboptimal infection prevention practices, and community availability of…
