ABSTRACT
Background: Misuse of antimicrobials combined with poor infection prevention and control (IPC) can result in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Health partnerships are ideally placed to enhance antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) through sharing up-to-date evidence and implementing best practice. Purpose(s): Brighton Lusaka Pharmacy Link (BLPL) was awarded a Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardships Scheme (CwPAMS) grant to implement AMS at University Teaching Hospital (UTH) (THET, 2020). Pharmacists-led AMS prescribing and monitoring activities aim to implement a robust data collection system and measure the impact of interventions reducing misuse and overuse of antibiotics while increasing knowledge about on IPC and AMS. Method(s): BLPL conducted a three-day workshop in Zambia for pharmacists, physicians, nurses and allied healthcare professionals at UTH to enhance AMS and point prevalence surveillance (PPS). IPC training was provided by the experienced Ndola IPC team. Train the trainer workshops enables UTH to disseminate AMS, PPS, IPC and data collection standards. Result(s): Proactive MDT committee to manage AMS and IPC activities at UTH was established Specialist AMS pharmacist appointed Two Global-PPS undertaken Modified antibiotic prescribing chart introduced and audited-UTH antimicrobial guidelines updated AMS modular training programme for health care accredited by UNZAforCPD recognition-34 IPC trainers trained Bare-below-the-elbow dress code (BBE) adopted nationally by HOPAZ WHO hand-rub production expanded Conclusion(s): This model of pharmacist-led AMS demonstrates sustainability in locally driven AMS knowledge and seeded national IPC capacity-building whilst instigating behavioural change pertinent during the COVID-19 pandemic.