Project Summary
Background
Antimicrobial resistance is the ability of a microbe to survive the effects of a medication to which it was originally sensitive, resulting in ineffective medicines and persistent infections. Tools that support healthcare professionals in decision-making around prescribing antimicrobials are becoming increasingly seen as valuable, particularly to GPs.
An electronic Point-Of-Care Antimicrobial Stewardship Tool (POCAST) has been developed which integrates high quality, evidence-based national antimicrobial guidelines into GP prescribing software used by five CCGs across North West London. The purpose of POCAST is to provide information and inform decision-making so that clinicians can find the most relevant, up-to-date sections of the guidance at the point-of-care, including out-of-hours.
The main driver for antimicrobial resistant infections is unnecessary antimicrobial usage, and the majority of antimicrobial prescribing occurs in primary care. To optimise the prescription process, POCAST improves access to decision support and uses patient consultation specific data to trigger messages at the point of prescribing.
This work was developed in collaboration with the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, and supported by Public Health England.
