Antimicrobial Guidance

Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is defined as ‘an organisational or healthcare-system-wide approach to promoting and monitoring judicious use of antimicrobials to preserve their future effectiveness’ 

The STS Antimicrobial Stewardship page is an online resource to support and promote rational antimicrobial prescribing and stewardship within the Trust. Antimicrobial guidance is approved for use within the Trust by the Antibiotic Stewardship Group (ASG). This has been developed in line with stewardship guidance published in 2015 by the D.o.H Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (ARHAI).

The philosophy of antimicrobial stewardship: START SMART – THEN FOCUS (more information here)

Comments, suggestions and criticisms are welcome.

National Antimicrobial Stewardship activities

The Trust supports the Antibiotic Guardian campaign - become an Antibiotic Guardian and make your own pledge to improve the use of antibiotics.

Become An Antibiotic Guardian

Antimicrobial Drug Safety alerts

Alerts are referenced on this linked page -  click here to access.

Recent updates / important information

25/2/2020

New section: Antimicrobial Drug Safety alerts - see here
Ongoing Issue: Raising the issue of nitrofurantoin in renal impairment - see MHRA alert; reminder to prescribers that use now contraindicated in patients where eGFR less than 30mL/min
Ongoing Issue: Reminder to prescribers that piperacillin-tazobactam is a restricted antimicrobial which must only be used with either Microbiologist approval, or as specifically described in a Trust guideline. Work is underway to identify and feedback non-compliance to prescribers. 

Contact list

Andrew Berrington
Consultant Microbiologist
e-mail: a.berrington@nhs.net

Milo Cullinan
Consultant Microbiologist
e-mail: m.cullinan@nhs.net

Rachel Bruce
Antimicrobial Pharmacist
e-mail:  r.bruce1@nhs.net

Matthew Walton
Antimicrobial Pharmacist
e-mail:matthew.walton5@nhs.net

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