Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship

Course Overview

Review the nature of antimicrobial resistance, the significance and extent of the problem, and the concept and implementation of antimicrobial stewardship.

Topics

• Antimicrobial resistance
• Examples of antimicrobial resistance
• Antimicrobial stewardship
• Implementing antimicrobial stewardship

Need

Dispensing of antimicrobial medicines is fundamental in professional pharmacy practice. It involves a strong patient and ethical focus, as well as ongoing education in order to have a positive impact on patient outcomes. Pharmacists, as providers of medicines and advisors to medicine use, must have a full understanding of these concepts and their practical applications.

Antimicrobials and the potential of resistance by various pathogens is fundamental knowledge to pharmacists and other healthcare professionals who must be fully aware of antimicrobial stewardship programs and instigating these programs within their own practice.

Purpose

The purpose of this Ausmed Course is to provide healthcare professionals with education relating to antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial stewardship.

Learning Outcomes

• Improve knowledge of the risk of antimicrobial resistance with specific antibiotics.
• Differentiate between antibiotic resistance and antimicrobial resistance.
• Implement methods of reducing the risk of resistance.
• Instigate antimicrobial stewardship programs in all practice settings.

Target Audience

Pharmacists and healthcare professionals who are involved in the prescribing, dispensing and/or administration of antibiotics and antimicrobials throughout patient care.

Disclosure

No conflict of interest exists for anyone in the position to control content for this activity. Wherever possible, generic or non-proprietary names of medications or products have been used.

Educator

Louis Roller View profile

Dr Louis Roller has been an academic at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Monash University for over 55 years. He served on the Pharmacy Board of Victoria for 22 years and is the author of hundreds of scientific and professional articles. Louis was made a life member of the Australasian Pharmaceutical Sciences Association in 2012 and was awarded the life-long achievement award from the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia in 2014. He is a prolific provider of education for Ausmed and for the University of the Third Age