Infection prevention and enhancing antimicrobial stewardship in Zambia

Established in 2014, the Brighton–Lusaka Pharmacy Link (BLPL) connects Zambian pharmacists from the University Teaching Hospitals (UTH) and the University of Zambia with British pharmacists from Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust (BSUH), the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex. Together, the group reviews common interests, identifies system gaps in both England or Zambia, and develops joint educational goals — most recently focusing on antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and infection prevention and control (IPC) in Zambia.

Misuse of antimicrobials, combined with poor IPC, can result in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This may increase length of hospital stay, cost of treatment and the risk of adverse effects, as well as prolonged morbidity and mortality. Therefore, in 2018, the BLPL partnership was awarded 1 of 12 Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardship (CwPAMS) grants to implement AMS at UTH. To ensure engagement and sustainability, a pharmacist-led multidisciplinary team (MDT) was established, which included physicians from Brighton and Sussex Medical School, BSUH and UTH, as well as IPC team physicians, nurses and pharmacists from Ndola Teaching Hospital, Zambia.