Antimicrobial Pharmacists role

Question 1

What is the role of antimicrobial pharmacist role?

Answer 1

• Attending ward rounds and acting as contact between pharmacy, microbiology
  and infectious diseases and infection control teams
• Providing advice on antimicrobial therapy (choice, dose and duration) for patients
• Preparing evidence based prescribing guidelines/formularies for antimicrobials
• Promoting good prescribing practice
• Monitoring antimicrobial use and expenditure
• Education for staff groups
• Regular analysis with feedback to prescribers on antimicrobial use
• Monitoring prescribing in relation to policy
• Antimicrobial pharmacist with an IP may
  prescribe antimicrobials
• Co-ordinating OPAT

Question 2

How can antimicrobial therapy fail?

Answer 2

• Incorrect diagnosis
• Poor patient adherence
• Resistance
• Inability to absorb
• wrong route of administration meaning the drug cannot reach the site of action

Question 3

What counselling advice would you give to patients?

Answer 3

-Complete the prescribed course regardless of any improvement
-Only take antimicrobials prescribed to you by HCP
-Advise patient and check
understanding of: indication, dose, frequency, duration and any specific
timing requirements (e.g. spreading the doses out, taking before, with or after food)

Question 4

What is the antibiotic guardian pledge?

Answer 4

HCP encourages use in protecting antibiotics against the growing
threat of antibiotic resistance.
only using them when required.

Question 5

What is the ‘keep antibiotics working’ pledge?

Answer 5

Educates public about risks of antibiotic resistance, urging people to always take healthcare professionals’ advice as to when they need antibiotics