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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.

421 enrolled on this course

Female doctor leading medical team discussion in hospital exam room.

How to set up an Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme

421 enrolled on this course

  • 3 weeks

  • 2 hours per week

  • Accreditation available

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

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?

Royal College of Pathologists
Royal College of Pathologists:

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.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$19.99

For your first month. 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

$54/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 25 Dec 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 29 December 2024 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 29 December 2024 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

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