How to set up an Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme
Explore the importance of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and learn practical steps to set up an AMS programme.
336 enrolled on this course
Duration
3 weeksWeekly study
2 hours100% online
How it works
How to set up an Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme
Learn how to set up an antimicrobial stewardship programme
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of today’s most significant public health problems. Over several decades, microbes can develop resistance to antimicrobial medicines, rendering these life-saving medicines ineffective.
On this three-week course, you’ll learn the steps to set up an antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programme to protect our antibiotics and tackle AMR.
Discover the impact of both AMR and AMS
You’ll start the course by exploring the impact of AMR around the globe and look at the factors that lead to more resistance.
Next, you’ll explore the value of AMS and how to set goals for tackling AMR that fit your setting. You’ll also look at the impact of AMS on clinical, economic, and microbiological outcomes.
Implement your own antimicrobial stewardship programme in your setting
You’ll explore how to set up an AMS programme in your setting. You’ll start with the fundamentals, learning about the resources and structures you need to begin your AMS journey.
You’ll then study how to properly plan your programme, working with tools to analyse your setting and develop an action plan. With this knowledge, you’ll look at implementing your AMS programme with tools and tips for tackling AMS worldwide.
Reflect on how to keep improving with the experts at BSAC
You’ll also explore how to review your AMS programme once it has been set up. Next, you will investigate the different types of measurement that can help give insight into a programme’s success.
Finally, you’ll examine strategies for educating and training everyone involved in AMS so that you can create a sustained improvement cycle.
Syllabus
Week 1
Introduction to AMR and AMS
Welcome to the course
In this activity, we introduce the course and its objectives.
Antimicrobial Resistance
Defining and giving context to AMR.
Antimicrobial Stewardship
This activity provides an overview of how to create a change in behaviour, as well as the role of leadership and governance in developing effective AMS programmes.
End of Week 1
End of week quiz to test your knowledge and a brief summary of the topics covered in week 1.
Week 2
Setting up, structures, planning and implementing an AMS programme
AMS Structures
In this activity, we will look at the structures of AMS.
Setting the foundations
This activity focuses on how the microbiology laboratory can impact AMS practices, with a focus on the value of antibiograms.
Planning an ASP
Continuous collection of data is a key in keeping programmes and policies up to date and relevant to each individual setting. Surveillance is an important tool used in AMS programmes.
Performing AMS interventions
This activity provides an overview of AMS action planning and the first steps for implementation.
End of Week 2
End of week quiz to test your knowledge and a brief summary of the topics covered in week 2.
Week 3
Monitoring, Evaluation and Education
Measurement and evaluation
In this activity, we will discuss strategies for measuring and evaluating an AMS programme.
Types of measurement
This activity will introduce a number of measurement methods, including DDDs, DOT, and PPS.
Education and training
It is vital to keep healthcare professionals up to date with AMS knowledge. This activity will provide helpful resources on furthering AMS education and training.
End of course
Congratulations, you've completed the course! Recap the topics we've covered and consolidate your knowledge with the end of course quiz.
Who is this accredited by?
The Royal College of Pathologists is a professional membership organisation with charitable status, concerned with all matters relating to the science and practice of pathology.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Investigate the drivers of antimicrobial resistance and understand the need for antimicrobial stewardship
- Explore the behaviour change challenge behind improving antibiotic usage
- Identify the structures and set up required for an AMS programme
- Demonstrate the process of planning and performing AMS interventions
- Explore the importance of assessing and monitoring AMS programmes and interventions
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for healthcare professionals and clinical training grade staff working in secondary care settings.
Who will you learn with?
Who developed the course?
BSAC
Founded in 1971, the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy is committed to addressing the growing threat of drug resistant infections around the world.
ICARS
ICARS mission is to partner with low- and middle-income countries’ ministries and research institutions to co-develop and test cost-effective, context-specific AMR solutions with potential for scale-up across the One Health spectrum. Through provision of funding and technical expertise, ICARS works top-down with LMIC governments and policymakers as well as bottom-up with practitioners and stakeholders to identify and address AMR priorities.
Ways to learn | Buy this course | Subscribe & save | Limited access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choose the best way to learn for you! | $109/one-off payment | $349.99 for one year Automatically renews | Free |
| Fulfill your current learning need | Develop skills to further your career | Sample the course materials | |
| Access to this course | tick | tick | Access expires 17 May 2024 |
| Access to 1,000+ courses | cross | tick | cross |
| Learn at your own pace | tick | tick | cross |
| Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick | tick |
| Certificate when you're eligible | Printed and digital | Digital only | cross |
Cancel for free anytime |
Ways to learn
Choose the best way to learn for you!
Subscribe & save
$349.99 for one year
Automatically renews
Develop skills to further your career
- Access to this course
- Access to 1,000+ courses
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Cancel for free anytime
Buy this course
$109/one-off payment
Fulfill your current learning need
- Access to this course
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible
Limited access
Free
Sample the course materials
- Access expires 17 May 2024
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades) | |||
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)
Learning on FutureLearn
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- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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