Diagnostic and Antimicrobial Stewardship

Effective antimicrobial stewardship means using antimicrobials only when necessary and in the right way. In both healthcare and agriculture, ICARS supports countries to implement stewardship strategies that are rooted in local realities. 

• Human Health: Inappropriate antimicrobial use in hospitals and primary care (whether for surgical prophylaxis, neonatal care, outpatient prescriptions etc.) drives AMR. ICARS collaborates with governments and researchers in countries like Georgia, Zanzibar, and Laos to improve stewardship practices and ensure patients receive effective care.
• Animal Health: In farming systems, sick animals are often treated without any veterinary prescription or oversight, leading to the non-prudent use of antibiotics. Moreover, antimicrobials are often used routinely for growth promotion, which is unnecessary. ICARS works with partners in Zimbabwe, Georgia and Zambia to reduce the use of antimicrobials in the pig and poultry sectors, by removing use for growth promotion and training farmers and animal health workers on the responsible use of antibiotics. 
• Surveillance and behavioural change: Strong stewardship relies on robust data to track antimicrobial use and resistance, alongside interventions that encourage and sustain responsible antimicrobial use behaviours. In Vietnam and Chile, new monitoring tools track antibiotic use and resistance in aquaculture. ICARS also applies behavioural science to address the underlying behavioural drivers of misuse, such as cultural norms, economic pressures, and gendered access to care.