Alliance Healthcare has pledged to become an Antibiotic Guardian to mark the start of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (November 18-25), while Alphega Pharmacy has unveiled support for its members as part of the Keep Antibiotics Working campaign.

To help pharmacy teams spread awareness of the campaign within their pharmacies, Alphega has created a website share NHS digital resources including posters, digital screens and leaflets.

The group is also offering guidance on meeting the Pharmacy Quality Scheme requirements on antimicrobial stewardship, along with support for members from business mentors. E-learning assessments on antimicrobial stewardship must be completed by the end of March 2023 as part of the PQS.

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week aims to increase awareness of global antimicrobial resistance and encourage best practices for using antimicrobials in order to avoid the spread of drug-resistant infections.

Alliance Healthcare and GIRP, the European Healthcare Distribution Association, hosted an event yesterday in Brussels on antimicrobial resistance (November 17). It brought together leaders across the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries to facilitate collaboration, best-practice sharing and discussions on initiatives to address antimicrobial resistance.