eHealth and mHealth in Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs

Abstract

Background: The global need for rapid diagnostic methods for pathogen identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is underscored by the increasing bacterial resistance and limited therapeutic options, especially critical in sepsis management. Summary: This review examines the aspects of the eHealth and mHealth in Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASPs) to improve the treatment of infections and rational use of antimicrobials. Key Messages: The evolution from traditional phenotype-based methods to rapid molecular and mass spectrometry techniques has significantly decreased result turnaround times, improving patient outcomes. Despite advancements, the complex decision-making in antimicrobial therapy often exceeds the capacity of many clinicians, highlighting the importance of ASPs. These programs, integrating mHealth and eHealth, leverage technology to enhance healthcare services and patient outcomes, particularly in remote or resource-limited settings. However, the application of such technologies in antimicrobial management remains underexplored in hospitals. The development of platforms combining antimicrobial prescription data with pharmacotherapeutic algorithms and laboratory integration can significantly reduce costs and improve hospitalization times and mortality rates.

Keywords

• antimicrobial stewardship
• rapid diagnostic methods
• mhealth and ehealth
• antimicrobial resistance
• pharmacotherapeutic algorithms