IPS supplement abstracts

Abstract

Department of Health Start Smart then Focus recommends that successful antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes include a ward-focused antimicrobial team. Nurses are underutilised in AMS, and nurse/pharmacist-led initiatives have not been well described in the literature. A shortage of consultant microbiologists has required the AMS team to consider a creative multidisciplinary approach to post-prescription review and individual feedback at ward level. Discussion This project has demonstrated the value of a nurse/pharmacist collaboration for improving antimicrobial prescribing. The low intervention rate for IVOS was deemed to be due to the timing of intervention in relation to patient admission and has led to a change of focus to areas where duration of stay is typically longer. Future vision is to ensure sustainability in the context of long-term doctor shortages and continue to evidence the value of non-medical prescribers in AMS.