Collaboration between Antimicrobial Stewardship Program and Infection Control Program in Korean Healthcare Facilities
10.14192/kjicp.2025.30.2.138
- Author:
Yoon Suk JANG
1
;
Bongyoung KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Nursing, Konyang University, Daejeon, Korea
- Publication Type:Review Article
- From:
Korean Journal of healthcare-associated Infection Control and Prevention
2025;30(2):138-146
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health concern. Optimizing antibiotic use through an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) is a key strategy. In Korea, ASPs have been mostly voluntary and have largely been implemented only in large tertiary hospitals. However, in November 2024, the Korean government launched a pilot ASP initiative with structural and activity-based indicators, performance-based incentives, and staffing requirements to promote nationwide adoption of structured stewardship systems. This paper provides an overview of the ASP pilot project and how the ASP and Infection Control Program (ICP) can collaborate to manage AMR in Korean healthcare facilities. Both programs share the common goals of reducing AMR, emphasizing patient safety, and improving clinical outcomes. ASP optimizes individual antibiotic prescriptions led by infectious disease physicians and pharmacists, whereas ICP is oriented toward environmental and organizational infection prevention led by infection control nurses and clinicians. The synergy between ASP and ICP has been increasingly recognized in the literature and in international best practices. From previous studies, we identified four key areas in which ASP-ICP integration could be particularly impactful: 1) the development of shared governance and decision-making frameworks; 2) the use of integrated electronic surveillance systems for real-time monitoring of antibiotic use, resistance patterns, and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs); 3) the creation of joint clinical guidelines and education programs to reinforce interdisciplinary collaboration; and 4) the implementation of co-managed intervention protocols for Multidrug-Resistant Organism containment. Collaborative strategies not only enhance the effectiveness of AMR control but also improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency. Positive outcomes from consolidating overlapping tasks or collaborating in common areas (e.g., surveillance, reporting, training, interventions, and outreach) have been reported based on program similarities, although limitations may arise in Korea.Successful ASP-ICP collaboration in Korea requires consideration of unique local factors, such as hospital size, organizational culture, and medical reimbursement systems. In particular, government support for smaller hospitals, including networking, standardized guidelines, and telestewardship, is necessary. Therefore, the establishment of ASP-ICP collaboration models tailored to Korea’s diverse healthcare settings is essential. This requires systematic research, including of shared experiences and evaluations of short- and long-term outcomes, from each institution.
