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@article{206092,
        author = {SAJU L T},
        title = {The nurse's role in antimicrobial stewardship in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {13},
        number = {2},
        pages = {124-131},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=206092},
        abstract = {Background. Antimicrobial resistance falls hardest on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where infections are common and stewardship systems are still taking shape. Nurses are the largest part of the health workforce and spend more time at the bedside than any other group, yet their place in antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) has been described mostly from high-income settings. This review asked what is actually known about the nurse's role in AMS across LMICs.
Methods. Following the PRISMA 2020 statement, a search of PubMed/MEDLINE (2015 -2026) was combined with reference of reviews. Studies were eligible if they reported empirical ata on nurses, alone or within a mixed health-worker sample, together with an AMS or antimicrobial-use outcome in an LMIC. 
Results. Seven studies from Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Uganda and Brazil met the criteria - four cross-sectional surveys, two qualitative studies and one pre-post education study. A consistent picture emerged. Nurses held positive attitudes toward stewardship but were involved in it only to a limited degree. Knowledge of the term, and practice of AMS, lagged behind awareness of resistance itself. The barriers were practical: gaps in training, weak support from management, heavy workloads, patient pressure and unreliable drug supply. A single education programme improved knowledge scores significantly.
Conclusions. Nurses in LMICs are willing and numerous but under-used in stewardship. Putting AMS into nursing curricula, defining the nurse's stewardship role and backing it with managerial support could release that potential. The evidence base remains small and geographically narrow, and needs strengthening.},
        keywords = {Antimicrobial stewardship; Nurses; Low- and middle-income countries; Antimicrobial resistance; Nursing education; Knowledge, attitudes and practices},
        month = {July},
        }