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Showing results for tags 'Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)'.
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Content ArticleAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, and other microorganisms, develop resistance to antimicrobial drugs, such as antibiotics, making them less responsive or unresponsive to treatment. This National Action Plan sets out how the UK will reduce its use of antimicrobials in humans and animals, strengthen surveillance of drug resistant infections before they emerge and incentivise industry to develop the next generation of treatments.
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Content ArticleComputerised provider order entry (CPOE) prompts can provide patient-specific risk estimates for multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). This JAMA Network study aimed to find out whether CPOE prompts could reduce empiric extended-spectrum antibiotic use in patients admitted with pneumonia. The authors found that prompts promoting standard-spectrum antibiotics for patients at low risk of infection with MDROs reduced extended-spectrum antibiotic use by 28.4%, without increasing intensive care unit transfers or length of stay for patients with pneumonia.
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Content ArticleAntimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is well recognized as a silent pandemic posing a threat to human health, terrestrial and aquatic animal health, plant health, food production, food safety, environmental safety and global developmental goals. After adoption of the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (GAP-AMR) with five key strategic objectives and in 2015, many countries of the world developed and implemented National Action Plans for combating AMR with a One Health approach. Sri Lanka has developed and implemented the country’s first National Strategic Plan for combating AMR in 2017 (NSP 2017-2022) aligned with the strategic objectives of the GAP-AMR. Country AMR response has been organized and implemented by the national AMR focal point with focal points from human health, terrestrial and aquatic animal health and production, plant health and production, food safety and environment sectors. A National Advisory Committee (NAC-AMR) and a National Action Plan Implementation Strengthening Team (NAPIST) have been appointed with representatives from the above sectors. The end-term evaluation of the progress in implementation of NSP 2017-2022 was conducted by a team of Sri Lankan consultant microbiologists with the support of coordinators representing One Health sectors (human health, terrestrial and aquatic animal health and production, plant health and production, food safety and environment). This activity was conducted from April-June 2023 with the support of WHO. The same team of consultants and sector coordinators continued to work to develop the revised and updated National Strategic Plan 2023- 2028 and the National Action Plan for combating antimicrobial resistance in Sri Lanka for the next five-year period from 2023 to 2028 (NAP-AMR 2023-2028). This plan includes the indicators for Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework for the implementation of NAP with selected outcome indicators to monitor the impact.
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Content ArticleIn this episode, Dr Paul Grime, Chairman of the Safer Healthcare and Biosafety Network, speaks to Jonathan Pearce, Chief Executive of Antibiotic Research UK. Jonathan has nearly 20 years’ experience as a CEO in the UK charity sector and has led a number of national organisations, including DKMS UK, Lymphoma Action and Adoption UK. Safety Talks is a podcast series as part of the Safety for All Campaign, launched to shine a light on the symbiotic relationship and benefits of integrating the approach to deliver healthcare worker safety and patient safety.
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EventWHO Infection Prevention and Control Global Webinar Series Each year the WHO’s World Hand Hygiene day aims to maintain a global profile on the importance of hand hygiene in health care and to ‘bring people together’ in support of hand hygiene improvement globally. On this day, everyone, in countries and health facilities, can renew their support and promote and implement strategies and innovations to improve hand hygiene practices in health care. Objectives: To promote a shared understanding of the fact that IPC education and training should be in place for all health workers by utilizing team- and task-based strategies that are participatory and include bedside and simulation training to reduce the risk of HAI and AMR. To outline the importance of campaigning for hand hygiene and WHHD 2024 resources. To outline and describe proposed WHHD 2024 activities. To stimulate engagement with the campaign on and around 5 May 2024. Register
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Content ArticleThis article in the Pharmaceutical Journal outlines best practice principles and practical advice for structuring antimicrobial reviews and effective stewardship practices. It aims to equip pharmacists to: Understand the role of essential antimicrobial stewardship tools and frameworks to improve antibiotic prescribing; Structure an antimicrobial review effectively, covering all relevant details; Personalise the antimicrobial review to ensure patient-centred care and effective antimicrobial stewardship practices; Develop skills for effective antimicrobial review and stewardship practices to mitigate antimicrobial resistance threat.
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Content ArticleAntibiotic underdosing is a widespread issue in the healthcare system. The use of modern infusion pumps to deliver intravenous (IV) medications has resulted in the practice of flushing IV lines being lost in some specialties. Failure to give full doses of IV antibiotics poses significant risks to individual patients as well as adding to the problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In this interview, Ruth Dando, Head of Nursing, Theatres, Critical Care and Anaesthetics at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals Trust (BHRUHT) explains why antibiotic underdosing is a risk to patient safety and describes how she has implemented a change in practice to tackle the issue across BHRUHT. A transcript is available below the video.
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Content ArticleAshleigh Hughes is a Senior Sister at an NHS chemotherapy day unit. In this interview she shares her personal story about the impact of antibiotic underdosing on her Mum’s end of life care. Antibiotic underdosing is a medication safety issue that has profound implications for the health service as well as individual patients, but there is currently a lack of understanding and recognition of the issue.
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Content ArticleThis consensus statement co-ordinated by the British In Vitro Diagnostics Association (BIVDA) outlines the role of point of care testing in reducing the amount of antibiotics prescribed in primary care. It highlights the issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and outlines evidence for the effectiveness of the rapid point-of-care C-Reactive Protein (POC CRP) test to assist clinical decision making as to whether an individual presenting with symptoms of respiratory tract infection needs an antibiotic. It makes a series of recommendations for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England around the use of POC CRP testing in primary care.
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Content ArticleTo decrease surgical site infections after appendectomy for acute appendicitis, preoperative broad-spectrum antibiotics are often used in clinical practice. However, this treatment strategy has come under scrutiny because of increasing rates of antibiotic-resistant infections. This multisite quality improvement project aimed to decrease the treatment of uncomplicated acute appendicitis with piperacillin-tazobactam without increasing the rate of surgical site infections. The intervention had two distinct components: Updating electronic health record orders to encourage preoperative administration of narrow-spectrum antibiotics. Educating surgeons and emergency department clinicians about selecting appropriate antibiotic therapy for acute appendicitis. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared six months before and after implementation of the quality improvement intervention. The intervention successfully decreased piperacillin-tazobactam administration without increasing the rate of surgical site infections in patients with acute appendicitis.
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Event
Reducing antibiotic use in primary care
Patient Safety Learning posted an event in Community Calendar
If you work in primary care or primary care research, this one-hour NIHR Evidence webinar is for you. This webinar will cover NIHR research that could help reduce antibiotic prescribing in primary care. Speakers will present actionable evidence on antibiotic stewardship, and safe and effective prescribing. Presentations will be followed by a Q&A session, giving you a unique opportunity to quiz the researchers on how this research could be implemented at your organisation and reflect on potential barriers and facilitators. The webinar will cover: making decisions about who is in most need of antibiotics if antibiotics are needed for children with chest infections how digital tools can help reduce antibiotic prescribing. Register- Posted
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Content ArticleAntibiotic resistance is an increasing problem in healthcare, especially in nursing homes where up to 75% of antibiotics are prescribed inappropriately. This series of webinars from the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority covers various aspects of antibiotic stewardship including: Types of antimicrobials Why antibiotic stewardship and who should be at the table Antimicrobial usage Mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance Antibiograms Antimicrobial baseline data Developing an antimicrobial stewardship plan Antimicrobial usage data
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Content ArticleThis document outlines the concept and content of the World Health Organization (WHO) people-centred approach to addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in healthcare. It aims to address the challenges and barriers people face when accessing health services to prevent, diagnose and treat drug-resistant infections. It puts people and their needs at the centre of the AMR response and guides policy-makers in taking actions to mitigate AMR.
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Content ArticleThis report was published by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH). Key points • Antibiotic resistance is described bythe WHO as a ‘major threat’ • Drug-resistant infections kill 25,000people each year in the EuropeanUnion • Without a global and multi-faceted response, an increasing number of previously treatable infectious diseases will become life-threatening conditions Call to action • Investment in initiatives to promote hand hygiene • Campaigns to increase understanding of the appropriate use of antibiotics • Greater utilisation of the wider public health workforce to support patient compliance with medicines
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Content ArticleAntimicrobial agents, such as antibiotics, are essential to treat some human and animal infectious diseases. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when microorganisms change so that they are no longer affected by antimicrobial drugs used to treat them. There are different types of antimicrobials, which work against different types of microorganisms, such as antibacterials or antibiotics against bacteria, antivirals against viruses, and antifungals against fungi. Antimicrobials are often used incorrectly. The development of resistance is accelerated by the inappropriate use of these drugs, for example, using antibiotics (which help to treat bacteria) for viral infections like flu, or as a growth promoter in agriculture. Because of growing resistance, the world is running out of effective antibiotics to treat infectious diseases. Unless appropriate action is taken, decades of progress in health and medicine risk being undone. In May 2015, the World Health Assembly (WHA) endorsed a global action plan on AMR and urged all WHO Member States to develop national action plans (NAPs). The Seventy-third session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe launched the new European roadmap on AMR (2023–2030) to help accelerate the implementation of national strategies on AMR. The new brief from WHO Regional Office for Europe highlights the important connections between AMR infection prevention and control.
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Content ArticleConflicts and wars contribute substantially to the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). War-related factors that contribute to AMR include restricted resources, high casualties, suboptimal infection prevention control, and environmental pollution from infrastructure destruction and heavy metals release from explosives. This article in The Lancet looks at the impact of the war in Gaza on AMR. It highlights that access to essential antibiotics, primarily through donations, has been a continuous challenge due to the blockade of Gaza and that Gaza's already restricted national surveillance system for AMR adds to the challenges.
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News Article
Warning lack of line flushing leading to ‘under delivery’ of IV antibiotics
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
The under delivery of intravenous antibiotics in some NHS hospitals due to lack of polices and compliance may be contributing to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), according to a parliamentary report. Findings in the report indicated that many health service organisations do not have policies in place to reduce the risk of under delivery and those that do can struggle to comply fully with them. The report’s authors warned that the residual volume of antibiotic remaining in the line of the IV administration set can result in under delivery of up to 30% of the prescribed dose. They said that, as a result, this could be leading to possible resistance within patients, owing to the accumulative effect. Nurses involved with compiling the document have called for action. Based on the findings, the report recommended that all NHS organisations implement line flushing policies by late 2024, with support from the Department for Health and Social Care. Read full story (paywalled) Source: Nursing Times, 9 December 2023 Further reading on the hub: Short-term intermittent IV antibiotics – Understanding the issue of under delivery Understanding the importance of accurate antibiotic administration through an IV administration set (drip): A patient’s guide Top picks: 10 key resources on antimicrobial resistance- Posted
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Content ArticleThe second annual Safety For All conference was held at the Royal College of Physicians in London on Tuesday 5th December 2023. Over 100 members of the healthcare community attended this event, including occupational health professionals, patient safety experts, frontline staff, patients and academics. The conference was hosted by the Safer Healthcare and Biosafety Network and Patient Safety Learning as part of the Safety For All campaign, supported by B. Braun, BD, Boston Scientific and Stryker. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from two keynote speakers: Lynn Woolsey, UK Deputy Chief Nurse at the Royal College of Nursing and Dr Henrietta Hughes, Patient Safety Commissioner for England. The conference was chaired and facilitated by Dr Rob Galloway, A&E Consultant at Brighton and Sussex Hospital NHS Trust, with a welcome introduction from Dr Ian Bullock, CEO of the Royal College of Physicians. There were a number of panel sessions and presentations throughout the day which are summarised in the attachment below, including on sustainability, antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic underdosing, violence at work, clinical communications, human factors, implementing the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF), and women's health and the menopause.
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News Article
Bleach does not tackle fatal hospital superbug, UK researchers find
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Liquid bleach does not kill off a hospital superbug that can cause fatal infections, researchers have found. Clostridium difficile, also known as C diff, is a type of bacteria found in the human gut. While it can coexist alongside other bacteria without problem, a disruption to gut flora can allow C diff to flourish, leading to bowel problems including diarrhoea and colitis. Severe infections can kill, with 1,910 people known to have died within 30 days of an infection in England during financial year 2021-2022. Those at greater risk of C diff infections include people aged over 65, those who are in hospital, people with a weakened immune system and people taking antibiotics, with some individuals experiencing repeated infections. According to government guidance, updated in 2019, chlorine-containing cleaning agents with at least 1,000 ppm available chlorine should be used as a disinfectant to tackle C diff. But researchers say it is unlikely be sufficient, with their experiments suggesting that even at high concentrations, sodium hypochlorite – a common type of bleach – is no better than water at doing the job. “With antimicrobial resistance increasing, people need to recognise that overuse of biocides can cause tolerance in certain microbes, and we’re seeing that definitely with chlorine and C diff,” said Dr Tina Joshi, co-author of the research, from the University of Plymouth. While chlorine-based chemicals used to be effective at killing such bacteria, that no longer appears to be the case, she said. “The UK doesn’t seem to have any written new gold standard for C diff disinfection. And I think that needs to change immediately,” she said. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 22 November 2023 -
Content ArticleThis report summarises the findings arising from a comprehensive study of antibiotic ‘line flushing’ and disposal practices in NHS organisations across Great Britain. It argues that is a need for concerted, UK-wide action on antibiotic line flushing policies.
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Content Articlee-Bug, operated by the UK Health Security Agency, is a health education programme that aims to promote positive behaviour change among children and young people to support infection prevention and control efforts, and to respond to the global threat of antimicrobial resistance. e-Bug provides free resources for educators, community leaders, parents, and caregivers to educate children and young people and ensure they are able to play their role in preventing infection outbreaks and using antimicrobials appropriately.
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Content ArticleThis pragmatic and modular tool is user friendly, flexible, easy to navigate, and adaptable to the needs of countries. It can be used to calculate and visualise detailed costs for prioritised activities included in the NAPs on AMR. Taking into account the different country contexts, the tool can be filled using a modular approach which allows different sectors, ministries or event departments to fill in the tool independently and these plans can then be consolidated into one national costed plan.
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Content Article
WHO: World AMR Awareness Week 2023
Patient-Safety-Learning posted an article in WHO
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial agents. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents become ineffective and infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. The World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) is a global campaign to raise awareness and understanding of AMR and promote best practices among One Health stakeholders to reduce the emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections. WAAW is celebrated from 18-24 November every year. The World Health Organization (WHO) explains what antimicrobial resistance is and provides resources for organisations wanting to take part in WAAW 2023, on their campaign webpage.- Posted
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EventuntilAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a clear and growing threat to health. Antibiotics are the cornerstone of modern medicine, but AMR has implications for the effective treatment of an increasing range of infections, with potential consequences for the future of health services not just in the UK but across the world. This free online event from the King's Fund will provide an opportunity to discuss why AMR matters, the impact of the UK’s approach to tackling it so far, and what more needs to be done. This event takes place in the context of the government’s 20-year vision for antimicrobial resistance and ongoing work to develop the upcoming 2024–29 national action plan for AMR as the current action plan comes to an end. This panel discussion will bring together experts to discuss: past and current efforts to tackle AMR in the UK and their impact – such as supporting the optimisation of antibiotic prescribing, developing new antibiotics, and improving the pipeline, and maximising the use of diagnostics the impact UK actions can have on a global issue such as AMR and stewardship at an international level what more should the UK be doing, how to understand the barriers that prevent effective action, and the levers that are available to drive progress as the UK moves into the next phase of the 20-year vision for AMR? Register
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Content ArticleAs clinicians, our primary objective is to provide the best possible care to our patients. In this pursuit, the administration of short-term intermittent IV antibiotics plays a crucial role in combating infections and saving lives; however, there is an under recognised issue, under delivery, that results in the misuse of antibiotics and could be exacerbating antimicrobial resistance. In this blog, Claire Davies, Clinical Therapy Manager at B. Braun Medical Ltd., explores the issue of under delivery and provides essential insights for clinicians to optimise their antibiotic therapy.
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