The One Health Bacteriology Group (KCCR-OHB) at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR) has successfully completed the first two day of a three-day training program on Fundamentals of Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) for clinicians and healthcare professionals at the Presbyterian Hospital Agogo under the Surveillance of Clinical Outcomes and Patient-Centered Effects of Antimicrobial Resistance (SCOPE AMR) Project.
The training, facilitated by Dr. Ricardo Strauss, an Internist, Tropical Medicine and Public Health specialist focused on antimicrobial stewardship implementation and research in resource-constrained settings, aimed to strengthen the capacity of healthcare professionals to address the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and Dr. Charity Wiafe Akenten, Principal Investigator of the One Health Bacteriology Group.
Antimicrobial resistance remains a major global public health threat, disproportionately affecting populations in low resource settings. The misuse and overuse of antibiotics continue to drive the emergence and spread of resistant pathogens, making antimicrobial stewardship a critical intervention for preserving the effectiveness of existing treatments.
During the first two days, participants explored the fundamentals of antimicrobial stewardship, examined antimicrobial use patterns within the hospital setting, and discussed practical stewardship interventions that can be implemented within existing healthcare systems. The sessions also focused on linking surveillance data, microbiology findings, and prescribing practices to support evidence based clinical decision making.
Interactive discussions and clinical case reviews provided participants with opportunities to apply stewardship principles to real world patient scenarios, while sessions on building sustainable AMS program highlighted the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration among clinicians, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, nurses, and hospital management.
The training forms part of efforts under the SCOPE AMR project to ensure that antimicrobial resistance surveillance data are translated into meaningful actions that improve patient outcomes, promote responsible antimicrobial use, and strengthen healthcare systems.
KCCR remains committed to supporting healthcare institutions through research, surveillance, capacity building, and collaborative interventions aimed at combating antimicrobial resistance and improving patient centered care.
