P16 Centre of excellence on antimicrobial stewardship in Central Uganda

Abstract Background Supported by a Commonwealth Partnership for Antimicrobial Stewardship (CwPAMS 2) grant, our partnership team comprising members from Makerere University, Nottingham Trent University, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust and Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital (ERRH) seeks to scale up and enhance sustainability on antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in Central Uganda. Building on the achievements of our previous CwPAMS projects, this current initiative aims at strengthening, human, animal and environmental health practitioners’ capacity on AMS in health facilities and the community, as well as promoting increased use of microbiology and prescribing data to inform clinical decisions. Objectives To establish a centre of excellence on antimicrobial stewardship in Central Uganda using a One Health approach with a focus on capacity building, mentorship of lower-level facilities, and knowledge transfer. Methods This project uses a One Health approach involving professionals from the domains of human, animal and environmental health. ERRH, the project hub, is currently mentoring lower health facilities (spokes) in AMS. AMS champions have been identified in each of these health facilities who are leading ongoing activities. The project has also employed CwPAMS AMS assessment tools during scoping visits to assess the baseline conditions at seven lower-level health facilities (one regional referral hospital, two district hospitals, three health centre IIIs and two health centre IIs). AMS workshops have so far been held in two districts (Nakaseke and Butambala) including two general hospitals. Results The project held inception meetings that brought together different stakeholders in AMS. Scoping visits and AMS assessments have been successfully completed across seven health facilities, highlighting different AMS practices, challenges and intervention strategies. Furthermore, mentorship has so far resulted in establishment of AMS committees, identification of AMS champions, and adoption of the prescribing companion app at five of the seven mentored lower-level health facilities. AMS workshops held in the two districts resulted in increased knowledge on antimicrobial practices among the participants. The post assessments from the workshops showed that 73.4% of the participants had learnt the key importance of surveillance in AMS, 89.6% of the participants recognized the role of public awareness in promoting AMS, and 79.8% understood the value of infectio