Workshop on Antimicrobial Stewardship held
The Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee at Khoula Hospital organised the first national workshop on Antimicrobial (AMR) Stewardship with the theme ‘Together Save Life Save Future’ on January 30.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is endangering human life, and as per the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) prediction, the one to cause the next pandemic will be AMR. It is predicted that by 2050, AMR will result in 10 million deaths per year and cost about $100 trillion worldwide.
Dr Mazin al Khaburi, DG of Khoula Hospital, inaugurated the workshop and, in his inaugural speech, emphasised the importance of education and awareness about the appropriate use of antimicrobials in animals and humans.
“Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, and parasites will not respond to commonly used antimicrobials medicine,” said Dr Manoj Malviya, Senior Consultant at Khoula Hospital.
He further said that what is more concerning is that AMR is interfering with the achievements of modern healthcare medical and surgical practices. AMR increases morbidities like healthcareassociated infections, surgical site infections, and hospital stays. It is a burden on people’s health and economy.
“It seems that our time for antimicrobials is getting over; antimicrobials are progressively becoming less effective.”
Evidence suggests that overuse and misuse of antimicrobials in humans and animals are the main drivers of AMR. The antimicrobial stewardship programme (ASP) has emerged as a successful strategy to combat the danger posed by AMR. ASP teaches evidence-based, responsible use of antimicrobials in the community and hospital settings.
The workshop aimed at educating and imparting the skills and knowledge to healthcare providers required to implement an AS programme. Eighty-four delegates, 47 from the Muscat region and 37 from regional hospitals (Ibra, Nizwa, Sohar, Sur, and others), participated in the workshop, which was a faceface, one-day programme with interactive lectures, practical sessions, and case studies.
The topics addressed during the workshop included the burden and drivers of AMR, how to establish and implement antimicrobial stewardship, and various antibiotics limiting strategies in the hospital setting.
There was an exhibition with the stall on ‘Infection prevention and control bundles’, ‘A microbiological display of resistant microorganisms /diagnostic stewardship’, and ‘How to start antibiotics stewardship as a quality improvement project.’
“Khoula hospital can play a crucial role in knowledge dissemination,” said Dr Mazin Khaboori, adding that “controlling antimicrobial resistance is a national priority and is everyone’s responsibility.”
Khoula ASC members conducted the workshop consisting of Dr Manoj Malviya, Chair and members Dr Nawal al Kindi, Zainab al Hashimi, Dr Adil al Kharusi, Dr Amal al Jabri, Huda al Abri, Nabela al Mout, Dr Said al Busaidy, Amira al Battashi, Dr Simi Rizvi and Sohail Rasheed.