GLASS guide for national surveillance systems for monitoring antimicrobial consumption in hospitals

Overview

Antimicrobial use is one of the main drivers of antimicrobial resistance (AMR); hence, surveillance and optimal use of antimicrobial medicines are among the key strategies to combat AMR. There is an urgent need for mechanisms to monitor antimicrobial consumption (AMC). This is equally relevant for hospital settings where the density of antimicrobial use in vulnerable patients is much higher, creating an increased risk of development and spread of resistant microbial pathogens.

GLASS guide for national surveillance systems for monitoring antimicrobial consumption in hospitals aims to help countries establish national mechanisms to enable routine AMC monitoring in hospitals. With this document, WHO proposes an approach for collecting and analysing AMC data at hospital level, based on the WHO methodology used for monitoring antimicrobial consumption. Monitoring AMC is an integral part of any antimicrobial stewardship programme. AMC data in hospitals provide insights into the volume and pattern of hospital AMC in a country and help inform and monitor targeted stewardship interventions.