We describe traditional antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) activities with a discussion of how these activities can be refocused in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, we discuss possible adverse consequences of ASP attention diversion on COVID-19 response efforts and overall implications for future pandemic planning. We also discuss ASP in collaboration with other groups within health systems and how COVID-19 may affect these relationships long term. Despite the paucity of literature on Antimicrobial Stewardship and COVID-19, the potential contributions of ASPs during a pandemic are numerous. ASPs can develop strategies to identify patients with COVID-19-like-illness; this is particularly useful when these patients are missed at the time of health system entry. ASPs can also play a critical role in the management of potential drug shortages, developing local treatment guidelines, optimizing the use of antibiotics, and in the diagnostic stewardship of COVID-19 testing, among other roles. Importantly, it is often difficult to ascertain whether critically ill patients who are hospitalized with COVID-19 have concurrent or secondary bacterial infections-ASPs are ideally situated to help optimize antimicrobial use for these patients via a variety of mechanisms. ASPs are uniquely positioned to aid in pandemic response planning and relief efforts. ASPs are already integrated into health systems and play a key role in optimizing antimicrobial prescribing. As ASPs assist in COVID-19 response, understanding the role of ASPs in pandemic relief efforts may mitigate damage from future outbreaks.

To the Editor-Optimizing antimicrobial use and stewardship during the global spread of severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an important goal for health systems. A review published in May 2020 found that only 8% of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had a bacterial or fungal coinfection, while 72% of patients received antimicrobial therapy. 1 Many patients requiring hospitalization for COVID-19 present with symptoms mimicking community-acquired bacterial pneumonia prompting empiric antibiotic use. 2 High antibiotic use might also stem from provider experience with hospitalized influenza patients of which 11%-35% may have a bacterial superinfection. 2,3 Antibiotic usage trends are starting to be published; a study by Velasco Arnaiz et al 4 showed increased pediatric inpatient azithromycin and ceftriaxone use in March and April of 2020 compared to the same months in 2019.We examined inpatient pneumonia-focused antibiotic use trends at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Health System, an 865-bed urban academic medical center. We hypothesized that antibiotic days of therapy per 1,000 patient days (DOT per 1,000 PD) for key antimicrobials targeting pneumonia would be affected for April and May of 2020 when compared to the average DOT per 1,000 PD over the preceding year due to the impact of COVID-19 on our health system. Methods

Misuse and overuse of antimicrobials have been identified as key factors for antimicrobial resistance (AR). Multiple professional organizations support the implementation of hospital-based ASPs to decrease antimicrobial consumption, improve patient outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs. There is limited data on the effectiveness of inpatient pediatric ASPs and AS strategies in unique populations. Furthermore, there is a paucity of evidence on ASPs in ambulatory settings. This review contributes to the growing body of evidence that supports the use of pediatric ASPs to optimize antimicrobial therapy in the inpatient setting as well as in unique patient populations and ambulatory settings. Active stewardship is critical and antimicrobial consumption is a key outcome metric for programs.