HCL is taking action against Antimicrobial Resistance

The Healthcare Central London Clinical Pharmacy Team will be joining the global action against Antimicrobial Resistance by running an Antimicrobial Awareness Campaign throughout November.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial agents. As a result, infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.

The UKHSA announced last year that an estimated 58,224 people had an antibiotic resistant infection in 2022 in England; with deaths from severe antibiotic resistant infections estimated at exceeding 2,000 people (Antibiotic resistant infections and associated deaths increase – GOV.UK).

There is worldwide concern that these numbers will only grow exponentially if decisive action isn’t taken.

The Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance (GRAM) project estimated that superbugs (micro-organisms that are resistant to one or more drugs) could kill more than 39 million people by 2050; with older people being particularly at risk (Home — GRAM Project).

Dame Sally Davies (former Chief Medical Officer for England) recently wrote an article where she stated that “over the next 25 years, someone will die every three minutes from common, preventable and formerly treatable health conditions simply because the antibiotic we use to treat them will have stopped being effective.”

Taking action

Faced with such a stark fact, it’s imperative that everyone – clinicians and the public alike, join the mission to preserve the antibiotics that are available while the pharmaceutical industry is supported to innovate new ones.

The UK has been at the forefront of tackling AMR and, in May 2024, launched its second five year action plan for antimicrobial resistance, 2024 to 2029. The action plan is based around four key themes with a range of actions which sit beneath these over-arching principles.

The figure below demonstrates the breadth of actions planned to tackle the problem.

Two themes where primary care can have an immediate impact are –

1. Reducing the need for and unintentional exposure to antimicrobials

Encouraging good infection prevention techniques (e.g. hand washing) within the health service and with patients will reduce the need for antimicrobials to be used. We have an opportunity to engage and educate the public on appropriate use of antimicrobials so that they are not demanded inappropriately.

2. Optimising the use of antimicrobials

Following clinical guidance and best practice as well as supporting patients to self-care are important strategies primary care teams can implement

Our plans

The HCL Clinical Pharmacy team are committed to taking a number of actions in line with the World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW) 2024 theme of “Educate, Advocate, Act Now”.

As a team we will:

1. Sign up to be Antibiotic Guardians by choosing a pledge here
2. Include the Antibiotic Guardian logo in our signatures for the month of November
3. Present at a Practice Meeting on an area of Antimicrobial Stewardship that is appropriate for the practice
4. Meet with our Practice Managers to agree one patient facing awareness tool to be promoted to the Public (this could be a poster, a Jayex Board message etc.)
5. Wear BLUE for our November Clinical Pharmacy Forum.
6. Proactively support appropriate prescribing of antibiotics with clinical colleagues and patients. For those of us who are Prescribers – ensure we prescribe in an evidence based way

Keep an eye on our social media channels for more updates on our activity.