This document, developed by Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control under the Taiwan Action Plan against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), aims to reduce antimicrobial use, curb multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), and enhance patient safety. Its dual title—Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in English and “Antibiotic Stewardship Manual” in Chinese—reflects both its strategic role and practical function. The Programme sets the national policy framework for reducing antimicrobial resistance, promoting responsible antibiotic use, and strengthening infection control across healthcare institutions, while the Manual serves as the operational guide that enables hospitals to carry out this framework effectively. The Manual outlines how rising AMR increases clinical risks and healthcare costs, driven by overuse of antibiotics and the emergence of resistant organisms such as MRSA, VRE, CRAB, and CRE. Drawing on global guidance from the WHO, CDC, and other authorities, it details Taiwan’s stewardship approach, which centres on surveillance, rational prescribing, infection prevention, and fostering a supportive medical culture. To achieve these goals, the Manual provides concrete implementation tools, including guidance on forming multidisciplinary stewardship teams, optimizing diagnostics, strengthening surveillance systems, and applying structured procedures, checklists, and educational measures to improve antibiotic use and limit the spread of resistance. It also addresses infection prevention for MDROs, quality control in microbiology labs, and national-level interventions, including legislation and monitoring systems.
Taiwan Province of China · 2015-12-01