Infectious disease burden, antimicrobial use and resistance highlight the need for antimicrobial stewardship in Indigenous communities
Antimicrobial stewardship is a set of coordinated strategies to improve antimicrobial use, enhance patient outcomes, reduce antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and decrease unnecessary costs. In Australian publicly funded health care, it is required for hospital accreditation under the National Standards, with highly developed strategies for hospitals (inpatient and outpatient) and nursing homes.1 Strategies in primary health care are much less developed, in settings where almost one in two Australians are prescribed an antibiotic every year.2
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The CRAMS Group includes membership from the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services (Dr Kerr Wright [former Medical Director] and Dr Lorraine Anderson [current Medical Director]), Top End Health Service (Ms Bhavini Patel, Dr Christine Connors, Mr John Shanks), Queensland Health (Ms Stacey McNamara, Dr Trent Yarwood, Dr Kathryn Daveson), Doherty Institute (Prof Jodie McVernon, A/Prof Steven Tong), Menzies School of Health Research (Mr Will Cuningham), the National Centre for Antimicrobial Prescribing (Dr Rodney James, A/Prof Kirsty Buising) and Telethon Kids Institute (A/Prof Asha Bowen). The CRAMS group has received funding for a pilot study of antimicrobial use in northern Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory from HOT North (NHMRC APP1131932). A/Prof Bowen and A/Prof Tong are supported by NHMRC fellowships (APP 1088735 and 1065736 respectively).
No relevant disclosures.