Self-Reported Antimicrobial Stewardship Practices in Primary Care Using the TARGET Antibiotics Self-Assessment Tool.

Area of Science:

• Primary Care Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health threat.
• Effective antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in primary care is crucial for combating AMR.
• The TARGET Antibiotics Toolkit provides resources for primary care clinicians.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends in antimicrobial stewardship practices in primary care using the Self-Assessment Tool (SAT).
• To compare current AMS practices with data from 2014-2016.
• To identify areas of strength and areas needing improvement in primary care AMS.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of anonymized data from the 16-question SAT collected between June 2016 and September 2019.
• Comparison of current SAT responses with historical data (2014-2016).
• Statistical analysis using Microsoft Excel and STATA 15.

Main Results:

• High reported engagement in practices such as using antibiotic guidance (98%), patient resources (94%), and antibiotic audits (98%).
• Significant improvements noted in areas like using patient-facing resources (71% to 94%) and conducting audits (45% to 98%) compared to 2014-2016.
• Areas identified for improvement include strategies to avoid patient reconsultations for antibiotics (45%) and ensuring access to guidance for temporary prescribers (55%).

Conclusions:

• Primary care demonstrates strong adherence to several AMS practices, with notable improvements over time.
• Targeted interventions are needed to address areas such as reducing repeat antibiotic consultations and enhancing continuous professional development in infection management.
• The SAT serves as a valuable tool for ongoing reflection and improvement of AMS in primary care settings.