Antimicrobial Stewardship in Ireland (2010-2021): a scoping review protocol.

Area of Science:

• Health Sciences
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASP) are critical for responsible antimicrobial use, reducing antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and healthcare-associated infections.
• Ireland's Strategy for the Control of Antimicrobial Resistance (SARI) published hospital antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) guidance in 2009.
• This study protocol outlines a scoping review to assess progress in implementing the 2009 SARI guidance in Irish hospitals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and map existing literature on antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in Irish hospitals.
• To evaluate the implementation progress of the 2009 SARI national guidance on AMS.
• To identify research gaps and inform future AMS interventions and research in the Republic of Ireland.

Main Methods:

• A five-stage scoping review methodology (Arksey & O'Mally, 2005) will be employed.
• Databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science) and targeted websites will be searched for relevant articles and reports (January 2010–December 2021).
• Two independent reviewers will screen studies, with discrepancies resolved by a third reviewer, mapping findings to SARI (2009) recommendations.

Main Results:

• The review will map studies and reports evaluating AMS in relation to national guidelines.
• All study designs and outcomes will be included to provide a comprehensive overview.
• Results will be reported following PRISMA-ScR guidelines.

Conclusions:

• This scoping review will provide a valuable resource on AMS implementation in the Republic of Ireland.
• It will highlight progress and identify areas for improvement in relation to national AMS guidelines.
• The findings will support the development of future AMS research and effective interventions to combat AMR.