Antibiotic Guardian Awards 2016

Head of Operations - Juliet Allibone and Sara Yadav

Highly Commended- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust/ Imperial College London HPRU

Last Thursday was the first inaugural Antibiotic Guardian Awards to celebrate those organisations and individuals who have demonstrated achievement in tackling antimicrobial resistance across England. These awards form part of the ongoing Antibiotic Guardian campaign which is led by Public Health England in collaboration with UK devolved administrations and professional bodies.

The evening was attended by healthcare organisations across England who had all submitted entries and then shortlisted for their achievements in work to help combat antibiotic resistance and protect antibiotic usage. Awards were given in the following categories: Community Engagement, Stewardship, Innovation, Collaboration, Prescribing and Research and Staff Engagement and jointly presented by Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor John Watson.

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust/ Imperial College London HPRU were highly commended in the Innovation category for their work during the World Antibiotic Amnesty Week last year in November.

The World Antibiotic Amnesty Week saw members of the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance man stands at South Kensington and Hammersmith Campuses to raise awareness among staff and students of the threat that resistance poses, and take receipt of any unwanted antibiotics as part of the Antibiotic Amnesty.
Over 200 members of the College community pledged to become Antibiotic Guardians during this week.

The Antibiotic Guardian campaign aims to increase commitment and raise awareness among the public and healthcare professionals about how we can slow the development of resistant bacteria and cut overuse and unnecessary use of antibiotics. Without effective antibiotics many routine treatments will become increasingly dangerous.

This recognition from the Antibiotic Guardian Awards highlights the important work that the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance is doing to support the key aims and goals of Antibiotic Guardian to address this global challenge.

Dr Diane Ashiru-Oredope, Lead for the Antibiotic Guardian campaign, said:

“The Antibiotic Guardian awards are an excellent opportunity for us to champion organisations and individuals who have supported the Antibiotic Guardian campaign and demonstrated achievement in their work to tackle antimicrobial resistance, one of the biggest global public health threats we face.

“These awards have highlighted the wealth of fantastic work taking place across the country in combatting antimicrobial resistance. I’d like to personally congratulate all the nominees and winners for their contributions.

“At Public Health England we will continue to support and work with partners across the health system to improve antimicrobial prescribing and stewardship programmes.”

You can find out more about the Antibiotic Guardian campaign  at: www.antibioticguardian.com