Community Pharmacy

This year as part of World Antibiotic Awareness Week, Community Pharmacy teams are invited to participate in European Antibiotics Awareness Day (EAAD), World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW) and the Antibiotic Guardian campaign 2017.

Community Pharmacy teams are invited to register their community pharmacy premises to lead promotional activities for EAAD, WAAW and the Antibiotic Guardian campaign 2017-2018. Please complete the online registration form by 30 November 2017. Registration takes less than five minutes.

As healthcare professionals that have access to 1 million people a day, the role of pharmacists in raising awareness about prudent antibiotic use is crucial. Being in direct contact with patients on daily basis, pharmacists are well placed to educate the public on taking their medicine safely and effectively, especially when it comes to self-medicating, not finishing a course of antibiotics as prescribed, or using/ sharing left over antibiotics with others

The Antibiotic Guardian campaign, which was launched in September 2014, has now seen over 33, 000 individuals (public and healthcare professionals) become Antibiotic Guardians; each choosing a pledge about how they will personally use antibiotics more prudently. Evaluation of the campaign has highlighted that it is effective for changing behaviour and increasing knowledge (self reported)

There are range of resources freely available for use to support local and social media campaigns.

CPPE is leading an Antibiotic Learning Campaign with an opportunity for pharmacy colleagues to earn an Antibiotic Guardian Pharmacy Champion Badge.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society has developed a range of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) resources including a quick reference guide and an AMS portal

In 2016, PSNC distributed a poster an produced by Public Health England in collaboration with pharmacy organisations, to all community pharmacy contractors in October’s Community Pharmacy News (CPN) for pharmacies to display to increase awareness of the Antibiotic Guardian campaign amongst their patients.