From: Antimicrobial stewardship in residential aged care facilities: need and readiness assessment
AMS interventions | Potential areas of focus |
---|---|
Nursing staff education and training | -Reinforcement of issues about antibiotic use, antibiotic resistance and benefits of antimicrobial stewardship |
-Education sessions as part of in-service training, via online training modules, awareness campaigns, etc. | |
Aged care-specific infection management algorithms for nursing staff | -Flow charts to guide appropriate initial testing of residents, as well as guidance with regard to conditions that may be observed versus those requiring immediate contacting of prescribers |
-Targeted management of common infections, in particular, urinary and respiratory tract infections | |
Aged care-specific antibiotic treatment guidelines | -Development of evidence-based aged care antibiotic treatment guidelines (with recommendations about appropriate dosages and duration of therapy) |
-Education to prescribers through online updates or distribution of newsletters, highlighting evidence-based prescribing practices | |
Regular surveillance of antibiotic use by consultant pharmacists | -Passive surveillance and audit of antibiotic use, with regular feedback to the prescribers |
-Documentation of individual residents’ prior antibiotic exposure over time, supplemented by antibiotic susceptibility results to guide prescribing decisions | |
Improved communication about decisions related to antibiotic prescribing | -Early discussion with residents and/or families about antibiotic use during acute events and terminal illness as part of advanced care planning |
-Proper handover from locum doctors to regular GPs regarding antibiotics prescribed after hours for further review | |
 | -Faxing of treatment plans for phone ordering of antibiotics via antibiotic ordering form with clear indications for treatment and planned duration of treatment |