The web-based Handbook on Antimicrobial Stewardship Programmes (ASP) helps hospitals use antibiotics responsibly – benefiting patient safety, effective resistance control and lower treatment costs.

The ASP Handbook supports ASP teams and professionals from clinical departments, the hospital pharmacy, infection prevention and control, quality management and microbiology, both in launching a hospital ASP from scratch and in its implementation.

Practical implementation tools are available for the four action areas of ASP (Governance and Strategy, Monitoring, Guidelines and Education, Prescribing Practices): ASP teams and professionals learn how local antimicrobial stewardship activities can be embedded in the hospital governance, and what to consider when monitoring antibiotic consumption. They also receive tips for providing guidelines and organising training for prescribers. In addition, principles for antibiotic prescribing and audits indicate to ASP teams and professionals how to effectively improve prescribing practice in their hospital.