4 August 2022
An action plan to enhance
antimicrobial stewardship in rural hospitals: maximising connections
Dr Jaclyn Bishop
BPharm (Hons), GradCert(Mgt), MPH, PhD
University of Melbourne, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Department of Medicine- Royal Melbourne Hospital
National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship
East Grampians Health Service & Grampians Health
Recommended strategies to optimise Antimicrobial Stewardship programs in Australian rural hospitals
Recommendations
Expand the role of existing centralised organisations to better share resources and support networking Use accreditation to drive direct resource allocation for AMS programs
Provide greater support for rural hospitals to develop AMS network arrangements
Continued refinement of traditional roles within AMS programs to create new partnerships, particularly with aged and primary care (framework)
Focus on priority areas (high-risk infections, especially sepsis, cellulitis, ceftriaxone)
Develop a national repository of resources on infectious diseases and antibiotic therapies designed with appropriate rigour and consumer co-design
Greater utilisation of implementation science to improve the adoption and integration of evidence-based practices, policies and interventions
Action plan
There is a real opportunity to adopt a one health approach to improve antimicrobial prescribing in rural communities
Framework for an integrated AMS program across human primary, aged & acute care and veterinary practice
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
Rural connections
Rural connections
Action plan
Evaluate different models for AMS in Australian regional hospitals
Define the organisational conditions and intensity of input required
Action plan
Reduce duplication across health sectors through a national repository of resources
Conclusion
‘The need to improve antibiotic use is universal, but the approach to stewardship need not be the
same.
Adaptation, not imitation, is the key to success’
Livorsi, 2019
Livorsi DJ, Reisinger HS, Stenehjem E. Adapting Antibiotic Stewardship to the Community Hospital. JAMA Netw Open. 2019;2(8):e199356.
doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.9356