AURA
Antimicrobial stewardship in aged care
Antimicrobial stewardship in aged care is important to improve the safe and appropriate use of antimicrobials and decrease the risk of antimicrobial resistance for older people.
Importance of aged care for improved antimicrobial prescribing
The latest community antimicrobial use report was released in August 2025 and provides analyses of antimicrobials supplied under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS/RPBS). The report found that while overall community antimicrobial use has increased from 2022, it has increased more rapidly in aged care homes.
Successive Aged Care National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey reports show that antimicrobials are being used in aged care for conditions where they are not required. Almost 1 in 5 antimicrobials in the aged care setting are prescribed for use “when required”, which may lead to unnecessarily long treatment duration and increase the risk of antimicrobial resistance. A large number of antimicrobial prescriptions in residential aged care services were for the prevention of infections, which is concerning because antimicrobials are rarely recommended to prevent infection in this setting.
New Guidance resource
To support implementation of antimicrobial stewardship in aged care organisations, the Commission has released the Guidance for implementation of the Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Clinical Care Standard in aged care resource.
2024Guide, user guide or guidelinesFind out more about the Antimicrobial Stewardship Clinical Care Standard and the other resources available.
