An educational program on antimicrobial resistance and stewardship for staff nurses in a public tertiary care...

Nurses, the largest group among healthcare professionals, hold a pivotal position to positively influence antimicrobial management by virtue of being in constant touch with patients and their widespread engagement in multiple activities relating to antimicrobial use. However, the existing gap in nursing curriculum particularly in areas related to antimicrobial resistance and optimal use of these agents limits the clinical application of nurses' skills and pose barrier to their contribution towards achieving desirable outcomes in patient care. This training program was conducted to increase the nurses' awareness on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and sensitize them on their role in optimal antimicrobial management and stewardship activities.

Training comprised of 4 modules focussing on topics like key concepts on antimicrobials, AMR, infection prevention and control, antibiotic allergy, optimal use of antibiotics and antimicrobial stewardship (AS). The participants' knowledge at baseline and 1 week after program were assessed.

190 nurses participated in the program. Post program there was a consistent increase in the number of correct responses to all knowledge-based questions pertaining to 4 modules. A significant improvement in knowledge scores for all modules from baseline was also seen. The participants rated the overall quality of program as very good and agreed on its applicability in their practice. The training program was quite successful in educating nurses on critical issues related to AMR and AS. Nurses need to be constantly trained and sensitized for their potential contributions in the field of AMR and stewardship.