Role of pharmacists in antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial stewardship

As medicines experts, pharmacists across a broad range of settings play an important role in tackling antimicrobial resistance and can support the principles of good antimicrobial stewardship. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) can be defined as a set of coordinated interventions designed to improve and measure the appropriate use of antimicrobials. Pharamcists can contribute to AMS by incorporating relevant principles into their day-to-day practice in an effort to limit and potentially reverse the development of antimicrobial resistance. Examples of activities may include:

• Checking where possible, if antimicrobial prescriptions align with HSE antimicrobial prescribing guidelines. All pharmacists directly or indirectly involved in the supply of antimicrobials are recommended to keep up to date with the HSE antibiotic prescribing website for the latest information on safe prescribing, drug interactions and infection specific guidance.
• Providing advice to patients so that they have a better understanding of appropriate antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance.
• Providing advice to patients when they present with a self-limiting or a likely viral infection.
• Promoting vaccination for vaccine preventable diseases.
• Engaging in continuing professional development relating to antimicrobial resistance, infection prevention and control and antimicrobial stewardship, including the vaccination of preventable diseases.
• Participating in the vaccination of preventable diseases for vaccines authorised for supply and administration by pharmacists.
• Keeping up to date with current antimicrobial guidelines and advice relating to antimicrobial stewardship.

To support you and your pharmacy team in adhering to the principles of good antimicrobial stewardship, we would like to highlight the following resources:

• Pharmacist Antimicrobial Stewardship Network (PAMS-net) is a collaborative forum developed by the HSE Antimicrobial Resistance and infection Control AMRIC team and the Irish Institute of Pharmacy (IIOP) to support pharmacists across all settings to act as antimicrobial stewards. To become a member of the network, go to the “Courses and Events” page on the Irish Institute of Pharmacy website.
• IIOP Antimicrobial Stewardship for Community Pharmacists online programme is and an educational resource on antimicrobial stewardship and aims to equip pharmacists with knowledge and tools to optimise antibiotic use for patients and the public.
• The HSE website provides further information, tools and resources on Antimicrobial Stewardship including HSE Antimicrobial Stewardship Guidance for All Healthcare Settings.
• RESIST newsletters are regularly issued by the HSE AMRIC team to provide updates on new developments, guidelines, statistics and articles.

Infection prevention and control

Infection prevention and control is a practical, evidence-based approach for preventing patients and health workers from being harmed by avoidable infections. The following resources provide further information and training on this topic:

• The HSE Infection prevention and control webpage
• HSeLanD online learning programmes on Infection Prevention and Control and Antimicrobial Resistance
• HSE How to clean your hands

Supporting patients understanding of antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance

Pharmacists play an important role in supporting patients to gain a better understanding of appropriate antimicrobial use, antimicrobial resistance, and providing advice and signposting when a patient presents with a self-limiting or viral infection. Pharmacists can also contribute by  raising awareness and maximising the uptake of vaccinations by providing the public with accurate, factual information and reassurance about vaccinations. You may find the following resources useful to support your conversations with patients: 

• The HSE website undertheweather.ie provides advice for patients on how to look after themselves and those around them if common illnesses strike.
• Patient information leaflets and factsheets are available from the HSE for those who carry or are infected by a ‘superbug’, as well as ways in which these can be prevented.
• The HSE National Immunisation Office provide up-to-date information about HSE vaccination programmes for the public and healthcare professionals in Ireland.