title: Antimicrobial Stewardship from Policy to Practice: Experiences from UK Antimicrobial Pharmacists.
abstract: Antimicrobial stewardship in the UK has evolved dramatically in the last 15 years. Factors driving this include initial central funding for specialist pharmacists and mandatory reductions in healthcare-associated infections (particularly Clostridium difficile infection). More recently, the introduction of national stewardship guidelines, and an increased focus on stewardship as part of the UK five-year antimicrobial resistance strategy, have accelerated and embedded developments. Antimicrobial pharmacists have been instrumental in effecting changes at an organizational and national level. This article describes the evolution of the antimicrobial pharmacist role, its impact, the progress toward the actions listed in the five-year resistance strategy, and novel emerging areas in stewardship in the UK.
authors.affiliation: Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 8RF, UK. mark.gilchrist@imperial.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gilchrist
authors.affiliation: Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, St Thomas' Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wade
authors.affiliation: Antimicrobial Resistance Programme, Public Health England, London, UK.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ashiru-Oredope
authors.affiliation: Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Great George Street, Leeds, LS1 3EX, UK.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.affiliation: Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, 50 West Nile Street, Glasgow, G1 2NP, UK.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sneddon
authors.affiliation: St George's University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Blackshaw Road, Tooting, London, SW17 0QT, UK.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Whitney
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
authors.forename: Hayley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wickens
keywords: Antibiotic; Antimicrobial stewardship; Healthcare-associated infections; Pharmacy; Resistance