In Practice

Antimicrobial stewardship in a rural regional hospital – growing a positive culture

E Junaid, L Jenkins, H Swanepoel, Z North, T Gould

Abstract


Antimicrobial stewardship programmes have been introduced worldwide in response to the rise in antimicrobial resistance. The World Health Organization has mandated each Member State to produce a plan to address this problem. We report on the organic development of an antibiotic stewardship programme in a rural regional hospital in a resource-limited setting in South Africa. This has resulted in organisational change with increased awareness, participation, monitoring and education in antibiotic stewardship throughout the hospital.


Authors' affiliations

E Junaid, University of Manchester, UK; Improving Global Health, NHS Thames Valley and Wessex Leadership Academy, UK

L Jenkins, Head of Clinical Unit: Family and Emergency Medicine, George Regional Hospital, Department of Health, Western Cape, South Africa; Department of Family and Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa

H Swanepoel, Clinical pathologist, National Health Laboratory Service, George Regional Hospital, Department of Health, Western Cape, South Africa

Z North, Medical Manager, George Regional Hospital, Department of Health, Western Cape, South Africa

T Gould, Head of Clinical Unit: Internal Medicine, George Regional Hospital, Department of Health, Western Cape, South Africa

Full Text

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Keywords

Public health; Antimicrobial stewardship; Quality care; South Africa; Rural hospital; Positive culture

Cite this article

South African Medical Journal 2018;108(7):546-550. DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2018.v108i7.13149

Article History

Date submitted: 2018-06-26
Date published: 2018-06-26

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