Promoting Antimicrobial Stewardship by Incorporating it in Undergraduate Medical Education Curricula.

BACKGROUND: Education related to antimicrobial stewardship-the judicious use of antimicrobials-is essential to stem the rising tide of resistance.

METHODS: Using a scoping review method that includes a consultation component, we explored the extent to which antimicrobial stewardship is incorporated in undergraduate medical education.

RESULTS: We found 4 studies evaluating stewardship content in undergraduate medical school curricula along with 2 studies assessing the effectiveness of specific stewardship training programs in medical education.

DISCUSSION: We highlight three recommendations: (1) if applicable, identify an institutional "champion" and incorporate antibiotic stewardship-related content into medical school curriculum; (2) evaluate the status and effectiveness of antibiotic stewardship curricular components in medical education; (3) conduct research evaluating the long-term outcomes of antibiotic stewardship training in medical education.