Antimicrobial Pharmacy Technician Virtual Network Amy John Antimicrobial

Antimicrobial Pharmacy Technician Virtual Network Amy John, Antimicrobial Pharmacy Technician, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board Sarah Thomson, Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacy Technician, NHS Tayside Introduction Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is an increasingly serious threat to global public health that requires action across all government sectors and society 1. Inappropriate use of antimicrobials increases the risk of resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) that presents clinical and financial risks to healthcare providers. The UK government’s five-year national action plan ‘Tackling antimicrobial resistance 2019– 2024’ 2 was published in January 2019. The document sets out a plan to reduce antimicrobial resistance and asks for the commitment of public and private sectors. Increasingly, pharmacy technicians (PTs) are included within multidisciplinary Antimicrobial Management Teams (AMTs), and it is essential their knowledge and skills are used appropriately. During summer 2018, Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) PTs in England, Scotland Wales worked in partnership to create a network aiming to promote and develop this role within the UK and abroad. Results/Discussion Method/Description Social media, pharmacist networks and professional contacts were used to connect with antimicrobial PTs around the world. The three project leads agreed a group email format for the virtual network with review after 612 months. Members signed a Terms of Reference ensuring clarity of aims and standards expected. The Twitter Effect The virtual network has membership of 25 pharmacy technicians and is currently led by Amy John and Sarah Thomson. Activity of the network includes sharing of work, good practice and external education resources. It has proved an effective way to ask questions and get answers; some examples being around antimicrobial guidelines, plans to attend conferences and working towards meeting national prescribing targets. The network provides support for pharmacy technicians new to the AMS role by being a source of information and a quick way to meet more experienced people working in the same specialist area. Publicity for the network has led to increased awareness of the PT role within the AMT. The initial social media promotion led to a number of antimicrobial pharmacists contacting the project leads to enquire about the PT role, as it had highlighted a gap for this profession within their own multidisciplinary teams. The network has gained support from antimicrobial experts and groups around the UK. A global online forum developed by the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC) in collaboration with the project leads will be launched in September 2019. Conclusion The virtual network has met many of its aims and provided a platform to enable members to promote the antimicrobial stewardship agenda. To build on this success, continued engagement of members is key. The BSAC forum will allow non-specialist PTs in hospital, community and GP practice to become involved with the global AMS and AMR agenda. References 1. World Health Organization antimicrobial resistance factsheet available at: http: //www. who. int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance [accessed on 01/08/2019] 2. Tackling Antimicrobial resistance 2019 -2024 The UK’s Five – Year Action Plan available at: https: //assets. publishing. service. gov. uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/784894/UK_AMR_5_year_national_action_plan. pdf [accessed on 01/08/2019] Contact Details: amy. john@wales. nhs. uk sarah. thomson 1@nhs. net