Abstract
(1) Background: Our aim was to develop robust and reliable systems for antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in Keta Municipal Hospital and Ghana Police Hospital. Objectives were to build capacity through training staff in each hospital, establish AMS teams, collect data on antibiotic use and support local quality improvement initiatives. (2) Methods: The Scottish team visited Ghana hospitals on three occasions and the Ghanaian partners paid one visit to Scotland. Regular virtual meetings and email communication were used between visits to review progress and agree on actions. (3) Results: Multi-professional AMS teams established and met monthly with formal minutes and action plans; point prevalence surveys (PPS) carried out and data collected informed a training session; 60 staff participated in training delivered by the Scottish team and Ghanaian team cascaded training to over 100 staff; evaluation of training impact demonstrated significant positive change in knowledge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and appropriate antibiotic use as well as improved participant attitudes and behaviours towards AMR, their role in AMS, and confidence in using the Ghana Standard Treatment Guidelines and antimicrobial app. (4) Conclusions: Key objectives were achieved and a sustainable model for AMS established in both hospitals.
Highlights
The Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group (SAPG) has established a comprehensive and robust national antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programme coordinated by a national group working with regional antimicrobial multi-professional teams [1]
A standardised assessment of current stewardship was undertaken in both hospital using a tool developed by the Commonwealth Pharmacy Association (CPA)
Regarding the Information element of the project, we demonstrated that the point prevalence surveys (PPS) assessment was feasible in both hospitals and can be achieved with limited resources and minimal training of a multi-disciplinary team
Summary
The Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group (SAPG) has established a comprehensive and robust national antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programme coordinated by a national group working with regional antimicrobial multi-professional teams [1]. Specialist (Infectious Diseases Consultant or Microbiology Consultant) but the lead for the programme is an Antimicrobial Pharmacist. Antibiotics 2020, 9, 636 and other European countries, are generally led by an Infection Specialist but the majority of their stewardship interventions are delivered by Antimicrobial Pharmacists and increasingly supported by specialist nurses. Close multi-professional working has been critical to the success of the Scottish. This has been successful in changing prescribing practice, providing rich data on antimicrobial use and resistance, providing education for health and social care staff across all settings and applying quality improvement methodology at scale to tackle areas of poor practice [2].
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