Five Rights of Antibiotic Safety: Antimicrobial Stewardship Practices at One NHS Foundation Trust in England Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Abstract

This poster presents a study examining Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) and the adherence to 'The Five Rights of Antibiotic Safety' during antibiotic prescribing within an NHS Foundation Trust over the years 2019 and 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. It underscores the escalating public health crisis of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), which threatens to cause 10 million deaths annually by 2050 and has been exacerbated by the pandemic. The study’s aim was to evaluate AMS practices against the 'Five Rights' framework—ensuring the right patient, drug, dose, time, and duration of antibiotic use—to promote judicious antibiotic use and strengthen stewardship as advocated by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Employing a cross-sectional retrospective design, the study analysed 640 patient records, focusing on adults, immunocompromised, pregnant individuals, and those treated for respiratory tract infections or pneumonia. It adhered to ethical protocols and involved the Citizens Senate for public and patient inclusion. Results revealed an uptick in inappropriate prescribing and administration routes from 2019 to 2020, although there was a slight improvement in the duration of antibiotic use. The study also found increased pharmacist participation in AMS roles and emphasised the value of multidisciplinary collaboration, which improved during the pandemic. The study concludes that the COVID-19 pandemic saw a rise in incorrect antibiotic prescribing, highlighting the critical need for adherence to the 'Five Rights of Antibiotic Safety.' It suggests that focused guideline adherence.