The importance of antimicrobial stewardship in healthcare education has been highlighted by a recent global investigation led by Monash University. The study focused on antimicrobial knowledge in medicine, pharmacy, nursing, dentistry, and veterinary undergraduate students, revealing a need for better education across all disciplines to address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance and its impact on planetary health.
Antimicrobials, including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics, are crucial in healthcare but their inappropriate use can lead to environmental imbalance, contamination of soil, animals, and waterways. Antimicrobial stewardship plays a vital role in preparing the future healthcare workforce to promote responsible antimicrobial use.
The study found that current planetary health education primarily focuses on inappropriate antimicrobial use, indicating a need for a broader understanding of factors contributing to antimicrobial resistance. This includes knowledge of proper disposal methods, environmental contamination, surveillance techniques, false allergies, and the collaborative role of healthcare professionals in antimicrobial stewardship.
Published in the journal BMC Medical Education, the study reviewed 144 research articles from various countries to identify gaps and trends in antimicrobial knowledge. The research highlighted the need for interdisciplinary antimicrobial stewardship education, particularly in nursing, veterinary, and dentistry disciplines.
Dr. Angelina Lim, Deputy Pharmacy Course Director at Monash, emphasized the multifaceted nature of antimicrobial stewardship, stressing the importance of addressing factors beyond inappropriate use. The study also revealed that students are more familiar with “antimicrobial resistance” than “antimicrobial stewardship,” indicating a need for increased awareness in this area.
Lead author Shahd Alzard, a Ph.D. candidate at Monash and hospital pharmacist, hopes the study will inspire the development of standardized antimicrobial stewardship principles and interprofessional education programs. The goal is to enhance antimicrobial stewardship training at the undergraduate level to combat antimicrobial resistance effectively.
As world leaders prepare for the UN Climate Change Conference, the timing of this study underscores the urgency of addressing antimicrobial resistance and its impact on planetary health. The research aims to inform future curriculum development and improve antimicrobial stewardship practices in healthcare settings worldwide.
In conclusion, the collaboration between Monash University and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute seeks to enhance pediatric antimicrobial stewardship in community pharmacies. By promoting planetary health principles in education and practice, the hope is to create a more sustainable approach to antimicrobial use and combat the global threat of antimicrobial resistance.
