Considering Patient, Family, and Provider Goals and Expectations in a Rapidly Changing Clinical Context: A Framework for Antimicrobial Stewardship at the End of Life.

Antibiotic administration is often a part of end-of-life (EOL) care, including among patients who are not critically ill. Guideline-issuing bodies recommend that antimicrobial stewardship providers (ASPs) provide support to prescribers making decisions about whether or not to treat infections in this population. Relatively little is known about the rationale for antimicrobial prescribing during the EOL period in noncritical care settings, although patient and family preferences are often an influencing factor. The effectiveness of antimicrobials in improving quantity or quality of life in this population is unclear and likely context-specific.