World Antimicrobial Awareness Week

November 21, 2022

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) aims to raise awareness of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – one of the leading risks to human health.

Today’s theme is optimising diagnostics

The UK National Action Plan for Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance seeks to embed evidence-based clinical decision support tools and diagnostics tests into antimicrobial prescribing. Some key examples include:

Decision support tools:

• FeverPAIN and Centor when assessing sore throat
• CURB-65 when assessing CAP
• Local HAP severity scoring
• PHE diagnostic flowcharts for UTI

Laboratory testing

• Microbiology samples for routine culture and sensitivity
  • Essential to gold standard treatment
  • Underpin rationalisation of antimicrobials
• COVID-19/influenza testing
  • Do not offer an antibiotic to prevent or treat viral pneumonia
• Procalcitonin (PCT)
  • Rapidly induced Inflammatory biomarker specific to bacterial infection
• Legionella/pneumococcal urinary antigen tests
  • NICE recommended for moderate/high severity CAP

Near patient testing

• Urinalysis dipsticks
  • Very useful when used correctly alongside clinical signs and symptoms
  • Not useful in patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria such as patients:
    • With urinary catheters
    • Over 65 years old

Clinicians must ensure they are aware of the diagnostic tools available and use them appropriately.