Microbes swiped aside by super stewards

Members of the WSLHD Antimicrobial Stewardship group. Picture: Supplied
Members of the WSLHD Antimicrobial Stewardship group. Picture: Supplied

Take five committed teams, hundreds of blue cake pops and an occasion to celebrate, and what do you have?

A celebration of the achievements of Antimicrobial Stewardship across the district.

People from Pharmacy, Infectious Diseases, Microbiology, Nursing, and Infection Prevention and Control all attended, highlighting the value of multi-disciplinary team work.

Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist Kristin Xenos said it was “wonderful’ to have so many champions of the issue across WSLHD.

“Antimicrobial resistance is a complex, multifactorial issue and requires the efforts of many,” she said.

The group won the National Prescribing Service (NPS) annual national stand competition in 2016 and received a $500 morning tea. The same antimicrobial cake pops used on the 2016 stand were given to patients and staff again this time.

 

Antomicrobial Stewardship group members Edward Ngan (AMS Pharmacist at Blacktown), Dr Matthew Watts (ID Consultant), Kristin Xenos (WSLHD AMS Pharmacist), Dr Matthew O’Sullivan (ID Consultant) and Dr Indy Sandaradura (ID Consultant). Picture: Supplied
Antomicrobial Stewardship group members Edward Ngan (AMS Pharmacist at Blacktown), Dr Matthew Watts (ID Consultant), Kristin Xenos (WSLHD AMS Pharmacist), Dr Matthew O’Sullivan (ID Consultant) and Dr Indy Sandaradura (ID Consultant). Picture: Supplied

“The stand was an excellent initiative to engage patients and raise awareness to the issue of antimicrobial resistance, an issue that is poorly understood in the wider community,” Kristin said.

World Antibiotic Awareness Week will be held from November 13 to 19 2017. Keep an eye out for the AMS team’s activities on the ABCs of Antibiotics Intranet page and let them know if you would like to be involved.

Dr Matthew O'Sullivan
Dr Matthew O’Sullivan with a blue cake pop. Picture: Supplied

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