Promoting anti-microbial stewardship

There is a global antimicrobial resistance crisis resulting from overprescribing of antimicrobial medicines and non-compliance with treatment courses, incorrect dosages, poor infection prevention and control and poor sanitation.

In 2019, we were awarded a grant from the Fleming Fund to work with KCMC to develop Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS). Northumbria trust was the only NHS organisation to be selected by the Tanzanian Ministry of Health to work with Tanzania on this important project! In Tanzania, antibiotics can often be over-prescribed in community and pharmacy settings, so this project sought to improve antibiotic prescribing practice and raise greater awareness among the public about AMR, which will hopefully lead to more appropriate use.

Led by lead pharmacists at Northumbria and KCMC, this successful project has seen us roll out AMS training to staff at KCMC as well as district hospitals and rural dispensaries. We also undertook a number of other key activities including research, upgrading laboratory facilities, developing effective policies and protocols and supporting the development of the microbiologist and an AMS Group at the hospital. The team also held a successful workshop during Antibiotic Awareness Week in November 2019 which was incredibly impactful in encouraging changes to public behaviour in terms of infection prevention and antibiotic use.

Through their incredible contributions to this project, two of the trust’s pharmacists, Scott Barrett and Joseph Brayson, have subsequently been awarded a Fellowship by the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer.

In 2023, the team has begun work on furthering the impact and reach of Antimicrobial Stewardship in Tanzania, after being awarded a grant from the Tropical Health Education Fund & Commonwealth Partnership for Antimicrobial Stewardship. This project will continue over the next few years and build on foundations put down from our previous partnership work with Tanzanian healthcare workers.