*************************************************************
A spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (November 17) appealed to healthcare professionals and members of the public to make concerted efforts to combat Multidrug Resistant Organisms (MDROs) in recognition of Antibiotic Awareness Day.
Marked annually on November 18, Antibiotic Awareness Day is a public health initiative to enhance public awareness of the prudent use of antibiotics so as to prevent antimicrobial resistance, which has remained a major global public health challenge and threatens the continued effectiveness of antibiotics, as evidenced by the emergence of MDROs.
First published in 1999 and updated last year, the Interhospital Multi-disciplinary Programme on Antimicrobial ChemoTherapy (IMPACT) Guidelines (Fourth Edition) developed by the CHP in association with the Hospital Authority (HA), two local universities and the Hong Kong Medical Association serves as an invaluable reference tool for medical and health professionals in reinforcing the appropriate use of antimicrobial drugs.
This year the CHP launched a convenient mobile application for the IMPACT Guidelines in iPhone (itunes.apple.com/hk/app/impact/id592326130?mt=8&l=en), iPad (itunes.apple.com/hk/app/impact-hd/id592329800?mt=8&l=en) and Android (play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.freecomm.impact&hl=en_GB) interfaces, with value-added medical calculators and antibiograms by hospital clusters packaged in a user-friendly platform.
"The CHP has all along taken the lead in collaborating with stakeholders in hospitals in the public and private sectors as well as the community at large to combat antimicrobial resistance," the spokesman remarked.
Comprising of relevant medical experts, the Scientific Committee on Infection Control (SCIC) under the CHP provides advice on the scientific basis of infection control practices and develops strategies for public health management of MDROs. The Health Protection Programme on Antimicrobial Resistance, a working group under the SCIC, also recommends enhancing control measures on MDROs based on four major strategic directions of the SCIC:
* Surveillance;
* Careful use of antibiotics;
* Infection control; and
* Community engagement.
Regarding private hospitals, the CHP has set up a communication platform known as the "Working Group of Collaboration between CHP and Private Hospitals on Safe Use of Antibiotics and Infection Control" to regularly discuss on the safe use of antibiotics and infection control.
To echo with Antibiotic Awareness Day, the CHP has sent letters to private hospitals to call for concerted efforts against MDROs. Publicity materials have also been dispatched to the DH's clinics and dispensaries as well as the HA's hospitals and General Outpatient Clinics on the safe use of antibiotics.
"Apart from healthcare settings, the CHP has been promoting hand hygiene among long-term care facilities, emphasising the World Health Organization's Five Moments of Hand Hygiene and the important role of hand hygiene in the control of MDROs," the spokesman added.
A territory-wide Hand Hygiene Campaign was rolled out by the Infection Control Branch of the CHP in collaboration with the DH's Elderly Health Service in mid-September with a view to providing training to staff of Residential Care Homes for the Elderly (RCHEs) on hand hygiene and infection control measures against MDROs. Educational kits were delivered to RCHEs to arouse their awareness of the issue.
A webpage dedicated to Antibiotic Awareness Day has been established in the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/32062.html), providing healthcare providers and the public with more information on the safe use of antibiotics.
"The CHP will maintain vigilance and accord priority to controlling the transmission of MDROs in both hospital and community settings and will also step up publicity to enlist support from stakeholders in exercising the prudent use of antibiotics, attention to hand hygiene and other infection control measures," the spokesman said.
Ends/Sunday, November 17, 2013
Issued at HKT 12:00
NNNN
