Antimicrobial Stewardship
The following resources are intended to support pharmacists in their role as antimicrobial stewards. The resources offer general antimicrobial stewardship education and specific information to help guide decision making to ensure safe and responsible use of antimicrobials.
The resources found in the Assess Appropriateness and Patient Communication tabs have been specifically curated to support pharmacists using the Prescriptive Authority Decision-Making Framework for Level I prescribing. Navigate to the Continuing Education tab, or the General Tools and Resources (right side of the page), for broad learning.
To help guide the use of these resources, USask CPE has developed a short open-access module that offers a step-by-step process for assessing antimicrobial prescriptions, and some tips for challenging conversations that may arise with antimicrobial stewardship.
- Appropriate Use of Antimicrobial
Firstline
- Saskatchewan Health Authority and Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital specific guidelines and antimicrobial susceptibility when available
Bugs and Drugs
- Canadian treatment recommendations and antimicrobial dosing
Duration of Therapy infographic
- Canadian Pharmacists Association
Sanford Guide
- US subscription-based print and digital reference
- Guidelines
Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease (AMMI) Canada
Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)
- Other Tools to Support Appropriate Use
Viral Infection Prescription Pad
- RxFiles
- “prescription” for symptomatic management of viral infections using non-pharmacologic and over-the-counter medication strategies
Antibiotic Harms
- RxFiles
The Cold Standard website
- Choosing Wisely
- toolkit for using antibiotics wisely for the management of respiratory tract infections
Rethinking Antibiotic Prescriptions infographic
- University of Waterloo
- 5 key points to consider when using antibiotics
Antibiotic Stewardship and Rethink Antibiotic Prescribing videos
- University of Waterloo
Penicillin Allergies
- Drop the Label
- Resources and Infographics
- Shared Decision-Making Patient Resources
RxFiles Posters
- Includes sinusitis, pharyngitis, and bronchitis
Choosing Wisely Patient Infographics
- Infographics on various conditions
- sinus infection, ear infection, cold/flu, etc.
Let’s Talk Antibiotics
- Public Health Ontario
- Infographics on various conditions
- bronchitis, ear infection, sinus infection, sore throat, and "Do you think you need antibiotics?"
Key Points for Patients
- University of Waterloo
- infographic
- Having Conversations with Patients about Antimicrobials
Script for communicating with patients requesting antibiotics for viral infections
- Websites for Patients
Antibiotic Wise
- General information about antibiotic use
Do bugs need drugs? Guide to Wise Use of Antibiotics
- Information on managing common infections
Antimicrobial Stewardship: A competency-based approach
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- Audience: Health care providers prescribing antimicrobials.
- Cost: Free
- comprehensive course to equip clinicians with tools to improve use of antimicrobials in daily practice.
Antimicrobial Stewardship Learning Opportunities
- Nova Scotia Health
- Audience: varies
- Cost: Free (recorded webinars), links to a subscription-based course
McGill Antimicrobial Resistance
- McGill
- Audience: wide range (including pharmacists)
- Cost: not being offered in 2024
- 3 day course focusing on identifying practical approaches, tackling misuse, and discussing scientific advances
Antimicrobial Stewardship Certificate Program
- Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists
- Audience: pharmacists and other health care professionals
- Cost: Free (recorded webinars), links to a subscription-based course
- Cost: $600.00
Community Antimicrobial Stewardship Continuing Education
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control
- Audience: Health care providers prescribing antibiotics in a community setting
- Cost: Free (online modules)
Share your feedback with medSask. Click here to report an error, omission, or barrier to using our antimicrobial stewardship page.
Page reviewed: January 2024