Antimicrobial stewardship

Pharmacists should make themselves familiar with the Antifungal Drug Interactions Database

In this time of growing antimicrobial resistance, we do not have unlimited ways to effectively treat a systemic infection. We must be antimicrobial stewards and use antimicrobials responsibly to preserve their effectiveness[1] . This applies to antifungals too — not just antibiotics[2…

We need a national de-labelling drive for patients with penicillin allergy

False penicillin allergies are placing patients at risk of resistant infections and are a threat to antimicrobial stewardship; we must safely de-label patients to avoid these costs to public health.…

Dangerous labels: incorrect penicillin allergies fuel antibiotic resistance

The vast majority of people with a penicillin allergy label are, in fact, not allergic, leading to significant healthcare implications. Experts say it is now time for a national “de-labelling” drive to help conserve vital antibiotics.…

Infection prevention and enhancing antimicrobial stewardship in Zambia

Established in 2014, the Brighton–Lusaka Pharmacy Link (BLPL) connects Zambian pharmacists from the University Teaching Hospitals (UTH) and the University of Zambia with British pharmacists from Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust (BSUH), the University of Brighton and the Unive…

Promoting antibiotic guardians in India

English Pharmacy Board member Mahendra Patel on sharing the antimicrobial stewardship message across India, with students and younger pharmacists at the vanguard.…

Tackling antimicrobial resistance in cancer patients at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust

Antimicrobial resistant (AMR) infections are estimated to cause 700,000 deaths each year globally, and this figure is predicted to rise to 10 million with a cumulative cost of US$100tn by 2050[1] . In January 2019, the UK government published a five-year national action plan for tackling AM…

Local implementation of national guidance on management of common infections in primary care in England

Local adoption and adaptation of national antimicrobial prescribing guidance in primary care.…

Clinical pipeline of new antibiotics remains small, global report highlights

A quarter of clinical-stage antibiotics are supported by plans to ensure better access and good stewardship after launch compared to 7% in 2018, but the clinical pipeline of antibiotics for priority infections remains small, according to a report published by the Access to M…

Pharmacy assessment of penicillin allergy can save money, study finds

Pharmacy-driven allergy assessments can provide cost savings for patients with a reported penicillin allergy, a study presented at the American Society of Health System Pharmacists’ 54th Midyear Clinical Meeting has shown.…

More than half of acute trusts are failing to reduce their use of antibiotics

More than half of acute trusts in England failed to reduce their antibiotic use between 2017/2018 and 2018/2019, according to figures analysed by The Pharmaceutical Journal.…