News within Clinical Medicine
Mr Gerry Hughes receipient of Sláintecare Integration Fund Award
Mr Gerry Hughes, Clinical lecturer and lead researcher, from the Department of Clinical Medicine at the St James's Campus received the Sláintecare Integration Fund Award for his project 'A pathway to empower patients to engage with antimicrobial stewardship' which enables patients to speak up about antimicrobial hygiene in hospitals..
By the year 2050, 10 million patients worldwide will succumb to antimicrobial resistant (AMR) infections. This figure will surpass the projected mortalities due to malignant disease and road traffic accidents combined. In recent years, Ireland has experienced increases in the prevalence of multi-drug resistant infections which threaten patient safety. Increases in AMR are inextricably linked to antimicrobial overuse. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is a multi-component set of interventions designed to reduce unnecessary antimicrobial use in healthcare settings. Recent research has pointed to the need for increased involvement of patients in AMS from various standpoints such as ensuring the patient voice is heard and ensuring that patients are included as key stakeholders in AMS endeavours.
Gerry Hughes said: "The primary output of this project will be a package of interventions, co-designed with patients, patient representatives and healthcare staff which will empower patients to speak up about prudent antimicrobial prescribing in hospital. We look forward to working with our patient representative partners and healthcare colleagues towards this shared goal. "
Under Sláintecare the successful projects must demonstrate innovative ways in which citizens can engage in their own health; represent best practice in the management of chronic diseases and caring for older people, and encourage innovations in shift of care to the community or promote hospital avoidance.