Deploying and Maintaining Standards of New Pharmacy Services Provision in Poland-Introducing the National Pharmacist Competencies Assessment Tool: Pre-Registration Exam-Results of the Pilot Project.

Despite the functioning of the Bologna Declaration, the knowledge and skills of graduates educated in different countries may differ significantly. Therefore, this article aims to present the differences in results of the final exam in pharmacy among Polish pharmacy students. This exam was modeled on the British national exam supervised by the General Pharmaceutical Council. The exam was conducted in three cities in Poland, among a total of 175 final-year students (a full sample of those eligible was 451 with 276 refusals (38.58% response rate)). Taking the exam was voluntary and anonymous. The results indicate that none of the Polish students achieved the 70% mark required to pass the Great Britain exam. Significant differences in test results were noticed between cities. Students achieved the best average exam result in Bydgoszcz (46.35%), then in Warsaw (38.81%) and Lódz (38.35%). The pharmaceutical education system in Poland requires complete changes that will prepare future pharmacists for clinical work.

Global antimicrobial stewardship and the need for pharmaceutical system strengthening for antimicrobials within a One Health approach.

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted both the vulnerabilities and the critical role of global pharmaceutical systems in enabling equitable access to medicines. In this personal view, we position the pharmaceutical system as a missed research and investment opportunity that, if integrated properly, would benefit antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes within a One Health approach. KEY FINDINGS: The pharmaceutical supply management cycle (PSMC) illustrates the continuous interdependence between four key phases: selection, procurement, distribution and use. Furthermore, a PSMC is subject to external forces of market competition, policy and regulation - across human, animal and environmental health. We present examples of overlap in PSMCs across different One Health sectors and discuss the need for integration within human, animal and environmental health contexts. SUMMARY: Despite pharmaceutical systems being fundamental to successful AMS programmes, they are currently neglected and undervalued. Research and investment into pharmaceutical system optimisation and integration into AMS programmes present an opportunity for both high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries to develop responsible, comparable and international AMS innovations and interventions.

Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns in Ghana, Uganda, Zambia and Tanzania Hospitals: Results from the Global Point Prevalence Survey (G-PPS) on Antimicrobial Use and Stewardship Interventions Implemented.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains an important global public health issue with antimicrobial misuse and overuse being one of the main drivers. The Global Point Prevalence Survey (G-PPS) of Antimicrobial Consumption and Resistance assesses the prevalence and the quality of antimicrobial prescriptions across hospitals globally. G-PPS was carried out at 17 hospitals across Ghana, Uganda, Zambia and Tanzania. The overall prevalence of antimicrobial use was 50% (30-57%), with most antibiotics prescribed belonging to the WHO 'Access' and 'Watch' categories. No 'Reserve' category of antibiotics was prescribed across the study sites while antimicrobials belonging to the 'Not Recommended' group were prescribed infrequently. Antimicrobials were most often prescribed for prophylaxis for obstetric or gynaecological surgery, making up between 12 and 18% of total prescriptions across all countries. The most prescribed therapeutic subgroup of antimicrobials was 'Antibacterials for systemic use'. As a result of the programme, PPS data are now readily available for the first time in the hospitals, strengthening the global commitment to improved antimicrobial surveillance. Antimicrobial stewardship interventions developed included the formation of AMS committees, the provision of training and the preparation of new AMS guidelines. Other common interventions included the presentation of findings to clinicians for increased awareness, and the promotion of a multi-disciplinary approach to successful AMS programmes. Repeat PPS would be necessary to continually monitor the impact of interventions implemented. Broader participation is also encouraged to strengthen the evidence base.

Ozone disinfection of community pharmacies during the COVID-19 pandemic as a possible preventive measure for infection spread.

The COVID-19 pandemic is currently one of the major global health and economic challenges. An efficient method for reducing the transmission of the virus is a still unmet medical need. Existing experimental data have shown that coronavirus survival is negatively impacted by ozone, high temperature, and low humidity. Therefore, it is feasible to use area ozonation in pharmacies - the front line of the healthcare system. Nevertheless, further work is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of ozone disinfection to reduce the transmission of this virus in pharmacies, hospitals, and other public environments. Med Pr. 2021;72(5):529-34.

Implementation of a Delayed Prescribing Model to Reduce Antibiotic Prescribing for Suspected Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in a Hospital Outpatient Department, Ghana.

Background: High levels of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Ghana require the exploration of new approaches to optimise antimicrobial prescribing. This study aims to establish the feasibility of implementation of different delayed/back-up prescribing models on antimicrobial prescribing for upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). Methods: This study was part of a quality improvement project at LEKMA Hospital, Ghana, (Dec 2019-Feb 2020). Patients meeting inclusion criteria were assigned to one of four groups (Group 0: No prescription given; Group 1; Patient received post-dated antibiotic prescription; Group 2: Offer of a rapid reassessment of patient by a nurse practitioner after 3 days; and Group 3: Post-dated prescription forwarded to hospital pharmacy). Patients were contacted 10 days afterwards to ascertain wellbeing and actions taken, and patients were asked rate the service on a Likert scale. Post-study informal discussions were conducted with hospital staff. Results: In total, 142 patients met inclusion criteria. Groups 0, 1, 2 and 3 had 61, 16, 44 and 21 patients, respectively. Common diagnosis was sore throat (73%). Only one patient took antibiotics after 3 days. Nearly all (141/142) patients were successfully contacted on day 10, and of these, 102 (72%) rated their experiences as good or very good. Informal discussions with staff revealed improved knowledge of AMR. Conclusions: Delayed/back-up prescribing can reduce antibiotic consumption amongst outpatient department patients with suspected URTIs. Delayed/back-up prescribing can be implemented safely in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Improving Access to Antimicrobial Prescribing Guidelines in 4 African Countries: Development and Pilot Implementation of an App and Cross-Sectional Assessment of Attitudes and Behaviour Survey of Healthcare Workers and Patients.

Smartphone apps have proven to be an effective and acceptable resource for accessing information on antimicrobial prescribing. The purpose of the study is to highlight the development and implementation of a smartphone/mobile app (app) for antimicrobial prescribing guidelines (the Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardship-CwPAMS App) in Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia and to evaluate patients' and healthcare providers' perspectives on the use of the App in one of the participating institutions. Two structured cross-sectional questionnaires containing Likert scale, multiple-choice, and open-ended questions were issued to patients and healthcare workers six months after the introduction of the app at one of the hospital sites. Metrics of the use of the app for a one-year period were also obtained. Download and use of the app peaked between September and November 2019 with pharmacists accounting for the profession that the most frequently accessed the app. More than half of the responding patients had a positive attitude to the use of the app by health professionals. Results also revealed that more than 80% of health care workers who had used the CwPAMS App were comfortable using a smartphone/mobile device on a ward round, considered the app very useful, and found it to improve their awareness of antimicrobial stewardship, including documentation of the indication and duration for antimicrobials on the drug chart. It also encouraged pharmacists and nurses to challenge inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing. Overall, our findings suggest that its use as a guide to antimicrobial prescribing sparked positive responses from patients and health professionals. Further studies will be useful in identifying the long-term consequences of the use of the CwPAMS App and scope to implement in other settings, in order to guide future innovations and wider use.