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Friday 20 November 2020
The World Health Organisation (WHO) ranks Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among the top 10 global public health threats today leading to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs and increased mortality.
The WHO therefore urges all healthcare workers to ‘unite to preserve antimicrobials’ to optimise antimicrobial use among hospital patients.
Antimicrobials underpin modern healthcare and cannot be taken for granted.
Unnecessary use and misuse of antimicrobials, including antibiotics, is contributing to a rise in resistant microbes, making infections increasingly difficult to treat.
Antimicrobial stewardship is a shared responsibility of all healthcare workers in order to improve patient outcomes. It works hand-in-hand with infection prevention and control strategies to help address antimicrobial resistance.
Everyone has a role to play to preserve the use of these life-saving medicines for future generations.
Please take the opportunity to be part of Antibiotic Awareness Week by following these important steps:
A Assess patient for source of infection
B Before commencing antibiotics collect appropriate cultures
C Confirm patient's allergy history before prescribing antibiotics
D Document indication and review date in patient's health record
E Ensure results are reviewed within 24 hours. Switch to narrow spectrum antibiotics based on cultures results
Please find below further information and resources on how you can help optimise antimicrobial use:
For further information, please contact:
Ian Gassiep, AMS Physician - [email protected]
Janet Watson, Director of Pharmacy - [email protected]
Diana Moore, Quality Coordinator Care Standards - [email protected]
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