Antibiotic policies and the role of strategic hospital leadership

Operational aspects, programme construction and implementation are all essential components of antimicrobial control but are not the direct remit of management and must rest with the professional provider. Hospital leaders call influence antibiotic control through the priority they give it. This must not be purely financially driven and must incorporate an awareness of issues surrounding patient care. Such attitudes should encompass the consequences of poor prescribing practices in both human and corporate terms. A leader's recognition of these elements can be expressed through securing resources ill terms of both the human and hardware components. The best signalling of the status of this activity is through ensuring its inclusion in clinical governance and organisational Board reports. The goals for hospital leaders should be evidence of effective working practices and the execution of their own responsibilities by championing robust structures and procedures are in place. Potent hospital leadership delivered to the focus of antimicrobial control programmes is a major tool for their success. (C) 1999 The Hospital Infection Society.