What goes against the principles of good antibiotic stewardship?

• A. Short-term durations
• B. Long-term usage of antibiotics
• C. Regular antibiotic monitoring
• D. Narrow-spectrum use when possible

Answer: (B)

Antibiotic stewardship aims to treat infections effectively while minimizing harm, resistance, and disruption to the microbiome. Prolonged or long-term antibiotic use increases exposure, which raises the chance that bacteria will develop resistance and that patients will experience adverse effects or complications like C. difficile infection. This heavy, extended exposure runs counter to stewardship goals, which seek to minimize the duration of therapy and tailor treatment to the smallest effective window. In contrast, using short-term durations limits unnecessary exposure; regular monitoring helps catch safety issues and ensures the therapy is still needed; and choosing narrow-spectrum agents when possible reduces collateral damage to beneficial bacteria while effectively targeting the pathogen. So the practice that goes against stewardship is long-term antibiotic use.