Health Technology/clinical-trials

Telehealth Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Shows Promise for Rural Healthcare Settings — Implementation Study Results

247 Health News Editorial

·

6 May 2026

·

3 min read

·clinical-trials

New implementation study demonstrates how telehealth-based antimicrobial stewardship programs can successfully reduce antibiotic use in rural healthcare settings. The VAST program connected rural facilities to remote infectious disease experts, showing promise for addressing antimicrobial resistance in underserved areas.

Originally reported by ClinicalTrials.gov

References

  1. 1.Barlam, T. F., Cosgrove, S. E., Abbo, L. M., MacDougall, C., Schuetz, A. N., Septimus, E. J., ... & Trivedi, K. K. (2016). Implementing an antibiotic stewardship program: guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 62(10), e51-e77. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciw118
  2. 2.O'Neill, J. (2016). Tackling drug-resistant infections globally: final report and recommendations. Review on Antimicrobial Resistance. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-016-0121-3
  3. 3.Schuts, E. C., Hulscher, M. E., Mouton, J. W., Verduin, C. M., Stuart, J. W. T. C., Overdiek, H. W., ... & Prins, J. M. (2016). Current evidence on hospital antimicrobial stewardship objectives: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 16(7), 847-856. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(16)00065-7
  4. 4.Stenehjem, E., Hyun, D. Y., Septimus, E., & Yu, K. C. (2017). Antibiotic stewardship in small hospitals: barriers and potential solutions. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 65(4), 691-696. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/cix407
  5. 5.VA Office of Research and Development. (2025). Dissemination and Implementation of a Videoconference Antimicrobial Stewardship Team (VAST). ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT05319561. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05319561
Share:XLinkedIn
2

247 Health News Editorial

247 Health News is a medical intelligence platform delivering evidence-based research appraisals, clinical trial monitoring, and health technology news for healthcare professionals.

This content is for educational purposes for healthcare professionals only and does not constitute clinical advice. Clinical decisions should be based on individual patient assessment, current guidelines, and appropriate specialist consultation. Editorial Standards · Privacy Policy · Terms of Service