Halfway to salvation, or halfway to hell?

Purpose – For this themed issue, the purpose of this paper is to select papers that examine progress on addressing concerns raised in one of the Journal’s 2015 viewpoint articles. Design/methodology/approach – The authors contributing to this issue describe the evolution, current state and challenges facing development of antimicrobial stewardship initiatives in their communities. This editorial summarizes concerns raised in the 2015 viewpoint and provides a link to newer information for each of these problems. Findings – Progress is being made to build the political will for implementing initiatives that of necessity must span a wide swath of jurisdictions and national agencies in each country; the information resources necessary to maintain current awareness of evolving drug usage and resistance patterns; the infrastructure required to educate both public and professionals; and at least monitor if not ensure compliance. Practical implications – The concepts and experiences reported in this issue can inf...