The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7254 p851
21 June 2003

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SACAR: Specialist Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance (more)

Forum for pharmacists to share ideas on rational antimicrobial use required

More opportunities for pharmacists to share ideas on the rational use of antimicrobials are expected soon as a result of liaison between the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the specialist advisory committee on antimicrobial resistance (SACAR).

Last week, The Journal reported new Department of Health funding of £12m to increase the role of hospital pharmacists in ensuring the safe and effective use of antimicrobials (PJ, 14 June, p813).

Dr Jonathan Cooke, a member of SACAR and chief pharmacist at South Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "As well as setting up data collection and increasing the role of hospital pharmacists in rational antimicrobial use, we need a forum for describing elements of good practice and identifying methodology in implementing such programmes."

He hopes that the Society and SACAR will facilitate a focus for both pharmacists and other health professionals with an interest in this area. He expects that a multidisciplinary conference will be held next year.

Dr Cooke also predicts that forthcoming national data on antimicrobial prescribing will allow pharmacists to link antimicrobial use with resistance rates and the use of health service resources.

As well as improving patient care there are likely to be economic benefits of this programme, he predicts. Furthermore, clinical pharmacists working with microbiologists will also be able to facilitate decision support pathways for electronic prescribing systems. Dr Cooke also hopes that new educational programmes on rational antimicrobial use will be set up, initially on a postgraduate basis with eventual incorporation into undergraduate courses. SACAR has been talking to the National Prescribing Centre about using their expertise in this regard.

"Although there are many guidelines on antimicrobial use, a recent study in the use of surgical prophylaxis showed a lot of deviation from recommendations in terms of the agent used, dose timing and duration of therapy," Dr Cooke emphasised.

"It would be good to have the optimal management of infectious diseases identified as an area of NHS priority and to highlight the work as part of the NHS research and development agenda," he added.

Dr John Clements, science secretary, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, told The Journal that the Society will be supporting the proposed multidisciplinary conference on the use of antimicrobials. He expects that the Hospital Pharmacy Group, the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences and SACAR will be involved.

He also expects that progress reports on new work in this area will be made available through the Society, in partnership with SACAR. He added that the Society has organised a symposium on antibiotic resistance to be held at the British Association for the Advancement of Science conference in September.

Talking about the new Department of Health resources for pharmacists, Dr Gill Hawksworth, President of the Society, said: "Clinical pharmacists play an increasingly important role in the safe and rational use of antibiotics in hospitals because they are in the ideal position to help control infections and promote the prudent use of antimicrobials in the care of patients. In the long-term, we hope the tide of resistance to antibiotics can be reversed and this new initiative gives pharmacists the opportunity to play their full part."