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Practical Pharmacist-Led Interventions to Improve Antimicrobial Stewardship in Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia

Authors :
Frances Kerr
Israel Abebrese Sefah
Darius Obeng Essah
Alison Cockburn
Daniel Afriyie
Joyce Mahungu
Mariyam Mirfenderesky
Daniel Ankrah
Asiwome Aggor
Scott Barrett
Joseph Brayson
Eva Muro
Peter Benedict
Reem Santos
Rose Kanturegye
Ronald Onegwa
Musa Sekikubo
Fiona Rees
David Banda
Aubrey Chichonyi Kalungia
Luke Alutuli
Enock Chikatula
Diane Ashiru-Oredope
Source :
Pharmacy, Vol 9, Iss 3, p 124 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2021.

Abstract

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and others have identified, as a priority, the need to improve antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) interventions as part of the effort to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR). An international health partnership model, the Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardship (CwPAMS) programme, was established between selected countries in Africa (Ghana, Tanzania, Zambia and Uganda) and the UK to support AMS. This was funded by UK aid under the Fleming Fund and managed by the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) and Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET). The primary aims were to develop local AMS teams and generate antimicrobial consumption surveillance data, quality improvement initiatives, infection prevention and control (IPC) and education/training to reduce AMR. Education and training were key components in achieving this, with pharmacists taking a lead role in developing and leading AMS interventions. Pharmacist-led interventions in Ghana improved access to national antimicrobial prescribing guidelines via the CwPAMS mobile app and improved compliance with policy from 18% to 70% initially for patients with pneumonia in one outpatient clinic. Capacity development on AMS and IPC were achieved in both Tanzania and Zambia, and a train-the-trainer model on the local production of alcohol hand rub in Uganda and Zambia. The model of pharmacy health partnerships has been identified as a model with great potential to be used in other low and middle income countries (LMICs) to support tackling AMR.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
22264787
Volume :
9
Issue :
3
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Pharmacy
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.946f2283fc1e496f91611777d8d04008
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy9030124