Are We Making the Most of Community Pharmacies? Implementation of Antimicrobial Stewardship Measures in Community Pharmacies: A Narrative Review
Community pharmacists recognize the need to implement antimicrobial stewardship activities in community pharmacies. They are in a unique position to provide triage for common primary care indications and to lower the burden of patients at general practitioners’ offices. However, research shows that,...
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doaj-174dd6e9ac1c47848625d5272bb842762021-01-12T00:00:08ZengMDPI AGAntibiotics2079-63822021-01-0110636310.3390/antibiotics10010063Are We Making the Most of Community Pharmacies? Implementation of Antimicrobial Stewardship Measures in Community Pharmacies: A Narrative ReviewDoris Rusic0Josipa Bukić1Ana Seselja Perisin2Dario Leskur3Darko Modun4Ana Petric5Marino Vilovic6Josko Bozic7Department of Pharmacy, University of Split School of Medicine, Soltanska 2, 21 000 Split, CroatiaDepartment of Pharmacy, University of Split School of Medicine, Soltanska 2, 21 000 Split, CroatiaDepartment of Pharmacy, University of Split School of Medicine, Soltanska 2, 21 000 Split, CroatiaDepartment of Pharmacy, University of Split School of Medicine, Soltanska 2, 21 000 Split, CroatiaDepartment of Pharmacy, University of Split School of Medicine, Soltanska 2, 21 000 Split, CroatiaDepartment of Pharmacy, University of Split School of Medicine, Soltanska 2, 21 000 Split, CroatiaDepartment of Pathophysiology, University of Split School of Medicine, Soltanska 2, 21 000 Split, CroatiaDepartment of Pathophysiology, University of Split School of Medicine, Soltanska 2, 21 000 Split, CroatiaCommunity pharmacists recognize the need to implement antimicrobial stewardship activities in community pharmacies. They are in a unique position to provide triage for common primary care indications and to lower the burden of patients at general practitioners’ offices. However, research shows that, in some areas, dispensing of antimicrobials without valid prescription is still highly prevalent. Regardless of training, every community pharmacist can give his contribution to antimicrobial stewardship. One of the basic elements should be antimicrobial dispensing according to regulations, either prescription only, or according to guidelines where pharmacists have prescribing authority. Patient consultation supported with educational materials, such as leaflets, may reduce patients’ expectations to receive antibiotics for self-limiting infections and reduce pressure on general practitioners to prescribe antibiotics on patients’ demand. Treatment optimization may be achieved in collaboration with the prescribing general practitioners or by providing feedback. At last, pharmacists provided with additional training may be encouraged to provide consultation services to long-term care facilities, to introduce point-of-care testing for infectious diseases in their pharmacies or prescribe antimicrobials for uncomplicated infections. These services are welcomed by patients and communities. Expanding pharmacy services and pharmacists’ prescribing autonomy have shown a positive impact by reducing antibiotics consumption, thus ensuring better compliance with treatment guidelines.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/10/1/63antimicrobial stewardshipcommunity pharmacyantimicrobial resistancerespiratory tract infectionsurinary tract infectionsprimary care |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Doris Rusic Josipa Bukić Ana Seselja Perisin Dario Leskur Darko Modun Ana Petric Marino Vilovic Josko Bozic |
spellingShingle |
Doris Rusic Josipa Bukić Ana Seselja Perisin Dario Leskur Darko Modun Ana Petric Marino Vilovic Josko Bozic Are We Making the Most of Community Pharmacies? Implementation of Antimicrobial Stewardship Measures in Community Pharmacies: A Narrative Review Antibiotics antimicrobial stewardship community pharmacy antimicrobial resistance respiratory tract infections urinary tract infections primary care |
author_facet |
Doris Rusic Josipa Bukić Ana Seselja Perisin Dario Leskur Darko Modun Ana Petric Marino Vilovic Josko Bozic |
author_sort |
Doris Rusic |
title |
Are We Making the Most of Community Pharmacies? Implementation of Antimicrobial Stewardship Measures in Community Pharmacies: A Narrative Review |
title_short |
Are We Making the Most of Community Pharmacies? Implementation of Antimicrobial Stewardship Measures in Community Pharmacies: A Narrative Review |
title_full |
Are We Making the Most of Community Pharmacies? Implementation of Antimicrobial Stewardship Measures in Community Pharmacies: A Narrative Review |
title_fullStr |
Are We Making the Most of Community Pharmacies? Implementation of Antimicrobial Stewardship Measures in Community Pharmacies: A Narrative Review |
title_full_unstemmed |
Are We Making the Most of Community Pharmacies? Implementation of Antimicrobial Stewardship Measures in Community Pharmacies: A Narrative Review |
title_sort |
are we making the most of community pharmacies? implementation of antimicrobial stewardship measures in community pharmacies: a narrative review |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Antibiotics |
issn |
2079-6382 |
publishDate |
2021-01-01 |
description |
Community pharmacists recognize the need to implement antimicrobial stewardship activities in community pharmacies. They are in a unique position to provide triage for common primary care indications and to lower the burden of patients at general practitioners’ offices. However, research shows that, in some areas, dispensing of antimicrobials without valid prescription is still highly prevalent. Regardless of training, every community pharmacist can give his contribution to antimicrobial stewardship. One of the basic elements should be antimicrobial dispensing according to regulations, either prescription only, or according to guidelines where pharmacists have prescribing authority. Patient consultation supported with educational materials, such as leaflets, may reduce patients’ expectations to receive antibiotics for self-limiting infections and reduce pressure on general practitioners to prescribe antibiotics on patients’ demand. Treatment optimization may be achieved in collaboration with the prescribing general practitioners or by providing feedback. At last, pharmacists provided with additional training may be encouraged to provide consultation services to long-term care facilities, to introduce point-of-care testing for infectious diseases in their pharmacies or prescribe antimicrobials for uncomplicated infections. These services are welcomed by patients and communities. Expanding pharmacy services and pharmacists’ prescribing autonomy have shown a positive impact by reducing antibiotics consumption, thus ensuring better compliance with treatment guidelines. |
topic |
antimicrobial stewardship community pharmacy antimicrobial resistance respiratory tract infections urinary tract infections primary care |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/10/1/63 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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