Creative Collaborations in Antimicrobial Stewardship: Using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Core Elements as Your Guide.

Antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) success and growth rely on recurring collaborations with partners within the health care system, such as administration, clinical services, infection prevention, pharmacy, the medical school, and microbiology. These collaborations present valuable opportunities for development of hospital policies, institutional guidelines, and educational curriculum. External opportunities for collaboration may be less frequent but equally valuable. These collaborations are facilitated by health system partnerships with national quality organizations, neighboring ASPs, and the Department of Health. All collaborations present novel opportunities for policy development, research initiatives, and expanding the regional ASP footprint.