Which statement best describes antibiotic stewardship?

• A. It is a systematic approach to optimize antibiotic use to improve patient outcomes, reduce resistance, and minimize adverse effects.
• B. It is a systematic approach to optimize antibiotic use to improve patient outcomes, reduce resistance, and minimize adverse effects.
• C. It aims to promote the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in all cases.
• D. It applies only to veterinary medicine.

Answer: (B)

Antibiotic stewardship is about using antibiotics wisely to maximize patient benefits while reducing harm. This means selecting the right drug, dose, route, and duration based on evidence and local data, de-escalating when cultures show a narrower option is appropriate, and stopping therapy when it’s no longer needed. The goal is to improve patient outcomes, curb the emergence of resistance, and minimize adverse effects. The statement that captures this systematic optimization is the best description. Promoting broad-spectrum antibiotics in all cases conflicts with stewardship principles, and limiting stewardship to veterinary medicine ignores its broad role in human health and the One Health approach.