Japan perspective on antimicrobial stewardship and solid organ transplantation

Background: The current situation, challenges, and opportunities related to antimicrobial stewardship for solid organ transplantations (SOTs) patients in Japan are not well known.

Methods: We searched English and Japanese literature using Pubmed and Ichushi-Web (the Japanese medical literature search system provided by the Japan Medical Abstract Society) with relevant keywords including solid organ transplant, antimicrobial stewardship, and Japan. Hand searches of the references from the retrieved literature, including conference proceedings of The Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases, were conducted.

Results: The Japanese National Action Plan for antimicrobial resistance has brought attention to the importance of antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) in Japan. According to national surveillance, the proportion of methicillin resistance among Staphylococcus aureus was 48%, while the proportion of vancomycin-resistance among Enterococcus faecium was 1.5% in 2019. Resistance against imipenem in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in 2019 were 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively. Exploration of SOT-specific data on antimicrobial usage and drug resistance are warranted. A large questionnaire survey revealed a low proportion of hospitals with >500 beds implementing ASP toward immunocompromised patients. While the annual number of SOT in Japan has increased, the implementation of SOT-specific ASP varies among institutions.

Conclusion: A coordinated ASP and exploration of the burden of antimicrobial resistance are needed for SOT patients in Japan. Promoting both intrainstitutional and interinstitutional collaboration is vital to the advancement of SOT-specific ASP in Japan.