Effectiveness of Antimicrobial Stewardship During the COVID19 Pandemic
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An investigation into effective Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Strategies during a pandemic (COVID-19) in an acute care setting
IRAS ID
303405
Contact name
Zoe Aslanpour
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Hertfordshire
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, days
Research summary
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global crisis that requires urgent attention and action. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is a set of actions to promote the effective use of antimicrobial interventions. In acute-care settings, intravenous and oral antibiotics are widely administered for a variety of indications leading to increased opportunities for AMR. It is estimated that around 20–50% of antibiotics are unnecessary or inappropriately used. The COVID-19 pandemic covid-19 was accelerating the threat of antimicrobial resistance. The World Health Organization (WHO) discourages the use of antibiotics for mild cases of COVID-19. WHO was concerned by the inappropriate use of antibiotics, particularly among patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The percentage of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing was expected to be increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research study is important to investigate into the effectiveness of AMS strategies and explore the organisational antibiotic prescribing behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic, using a mixed method of quantitative and qualitative research through two different phases.
The first phase will include the review of medical records of patients prescribed antibiotics for respiratory tract infection before and during COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection will be through six different timelines (Three before COVID-19 as baseline measures, and three during the COVID-19 - wave 1, wave 2 and post wave 2). The Expected outcomes are to measure the effective antimicrobial strategies and metrics during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The second phase will be conducted using the survey questionnaires. It aims to explore the doctors, pharmacists, and nurses antibiotic prescribing behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaires will contain mixed types of close and open-ended questions. It is based on the Public Health England (PHE) antibiotic prescribing literature review and behavioural analysis. The Expected outcomes are to explore the perceptions, attitudes and AMS practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.
REC name
London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/LO/0160
Date of REC Opinion
16 Mar 2022
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion