Global research reveals gaps in antimicrobial knowledge and planetary health education

A global survey led by Monash University into antimicrobial knowledge in medicine, pharmacy, nursing, dentistry and veterinary students has revealed the need for better education across all five disciplines to tackle the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance and its impact on the health of the planet. curb.

Inappropriate use of antimicrobials (antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitics) can unbalance the environment and create unnecessary waste that can pollute our soil, animals and waterways.

As such, antimicrobial stewardship is an integral part of global health education as it aims to prepare the future healthcare workforce to promote the responsible use of antimicrobials.

The research shows that interdisciplinary global health education has so far focused on the inappropriate use of antimicrobials, highlighting the urgent need for a much broader understanding of the many skills needed to effectively combat antimicrobial resistance.

This includes an in-depth understanding of issues that can contribute to antimicrobial resistance, such as improper disposal, environmental contamination, understanding patterns of antimicrobial use through various surveillance and audit methods, spurious allergies and, most importantly, the role in which each healthcare professional can contribute . a team dedicated to antimicrobial stewardship.

In this study, conducted by researchers from Monash’s Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences published in the news BMC Medical Educationthe team reviewed 144 research articles from a wide range of countries with the aim of identifying gaps and trends in antimicrobial knowledge and ultimately helping inform planetary health curricula and improving antimicrobial stewardship within healthcare settings around the world.

One of the study’s lead authors and deputy pharmacy course director at Monash’s Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Angelina Lim, said antimicrobial stewardship in healthcare is multifaceted.

“While an understanding of inappropriate antimicrobial use is important in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, understanding other key factors, such as responsible drug disposal and continued surveillance methods, must be addressed in healthcare as we address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance and its impact on human and planetary health,” said Dr. Lim.

Of the 144 articles included in the review, India and Pakistan were the most represented countries, with medicine being the most represented discipline, followed by pharmacy and then dentistry. Overall, the review highlighted the need for increased interprofessional education in antimicrobial stewardship across all five disciplines, but especially within nursing, veterinary medicine, and dentistry.

In addition to the need for more training and education on proper antimicrobial prescribing, the survey also found that students are more familiar with the term ‘antimicrobial resistance’ compared to ‘antimicrobial stewardship’, indicating a need to greater awareness in this area.

Lead author, Monash Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Ph.D. candidate and hospital pharmacist at Northern Health, Shahd Alzard, said she hopes this review will provide a strong foundation for healthcare professionals to initiate interprofessional antimicrobial innovations and programs.

“Further research is encouraged to develop a standardized definition of certain antimicrobial stewardship principles that goes beyond prescribing and encompasses the many factors that compromise the health of the planet due to antimicrobial resistance,” Alzard said.

“My hope is that we will see a notable increase in the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship education and training at the undergraduate level, at a time when student knowledge and attitudes are still being shaped.”

Alzard and Dr. Lim have also recently collaborated with the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute to explore opportunities and barriers to improving antimicrobial stewardship in children in community pharmacies.

“At the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, we want our future pharmacists to be able to keep the principles of planetary health in mind and in turn lead to better practices in the community. Our students have co-led a recently published project that shows their passion for educating pharmacists in this area,” concluded Dr. Lim.

The study is timely as world leaders prepare to meet in Azerbaijan from November 11 to 22 for the 2024 UN Climate Conference, also known as COP29 or the Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.