Reducing antibiotic prescribing for children in primary care settings

Paediatric Antimicrobial Stewardship (P-AMS)

In autumn 2018, the former West Hampshire CCG offered its 49 constituent practices an educational outreach meeting aimed at reducing inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing, especially focusing on self-limiting respiratory tract infections in young children. This approach resulted in a 19% reduction in antibiotic prescribing in 0-4 year olds between winter 2017/18 and winter 2018/19, compared to an average 6% reduction across England. Consultation rates in primary care for this age group fell by 4% during the same time period.

You can read more about it in this poster

Each practice accessed resources from the Healthier Together website  which provides clear and accurate information for both parents and healthcare professionals on common childhood illnesses, and the RCGP TARGET Antibiotics Toolkit to support their prescribers, practice staff and patients improve antibiotic use.

Listen to Dr Sanjay Patel, Consultant in Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology and Project lead - Healthier Together to find out why P-AMS is so important and how to address it here: AMR in paediatric primary care
 
Calling all GP practices and Pharmacy Workforce in the Wessex Region:

We have received funding from HEE to roll out a Train the Trainer programme of P-AMS across Wessex.

Newsflash: National prescribing data from May 2021 shows that amoxicillin prescribing for children in primary care is rising. Parental and clinician anxiety as a result of COVID-19 and months on/off lock down is driving real pressure in primary care and this in turn is leading to inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics in young children and increasing antimicrobial resistance.

If you are a interested in running an educational outreach meeting in your local area or practice, please contact Liz Corteville liz.corteville@nhs.net or Ange Johnston angela.johnston7@nhs.net from HSI CCG Medicines Optimisation Team.