This publication provides a state-of-the-art overview of key issues related to antimicrobial resistance, including a focus on key pathogens causing common healthcare-associated and community-acquired infections. The epidemiology and therapeutic considerations of these antimicrobial resistant organisms are discussed, as well as the clinical and health economic impact of infections caused by them.

This progressive reference also provides a dedicated section covering the clinical programmatic strategies used to minimize the growing antimicrobial resistance problem, including practical information related to interventional concepts and their implementation. In addition to antimicrobial resistance in the context of traditionally discussed problematic bacterial pathogens, emerging data related to clinically important fungal pathogens and Clostridium difficile are also covered.

• While defining the basic principles of antimicrobial resistance and its epidemiology, this text will examine other critical issues such as:benefits and limitations of surveillance systems to monitor resistant organisms, understanding the economic impact of resistance, the role of waning new drug development in the context of emerging epidemics of resistant organisms, and epidemiologic tools and methods
• the epidemiology and treatment of specific problematic Gram-positive organisms (i.e., MRSA, VRE, multi-drug resistant Strepotococcus pneumoniae), Gram-negative organisms (i.e., Acinetobacter species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and ESBL-producing
• Enterobactericeae), other bacterial pathogens such as Clostridium difficile and how newly identified resistance mechanisms lead to risk for infection by this increasingly virulent organism, and finally, fungal pathogens
• What can be done by healthcare systems, outpatient practices, and individual practitioners to minimize resistance development
• Proven strategies to reduce the potential for resistance development that are discussed including an overview of short course antimicrobial therapy, improving antimicrobial prescribing by human decision support (antimicrobial stewardship programs) andcomputerized decision support, using pharmacodynamics to optimize dosing strategies against resistant pathogens, and the controversial role of combination therapyinfection control interventions which remain a cornerstone to effectively prevent and manage the spread of resistant pathogens