OAZIS Antimicrobial stewardship programme

Antimicrobial Stewardship: A Course For Healthcare Providers

INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE

This course is a part of the OAZIS Health Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, it aims to equip healthcare professionals, both clinicians and Para-clinicians with a basic understanding of antimicrobial resistance from a global health perspective. It will highlight the scientific understanding of antimicrobial resistance, basic principles in antimicrobial prescribing, and global health perspective implications. This course is designed to inspire Rwanda and LMICs healthcare practitioners to build strong local antimicrobial stewardship programs. Where the use of antimicrobial agents is optimized to maximize their benefits while minimizing risks for further development of antimicrobial resistance.

This course will be completed in an average of 10 hours and can be done at your pace. By completing the course successfully, you will be awarded 10 CPD credits. To earn your certificate, you need to pass the end course evaluation at above 70%.

Objectives of the course:

• Understanding antimicrobials and the global threat of antimicrobial resistance
• Understanding principles of antimicrobial Stewardship
• Understanding one health approach role in antimicrobial stewardship
• Understanding the principles of antimicrobial prescribing
• Understanding the role of multidisciplinary teams in antimicrobial Stewardship
• Understanding the role of behavior change and patient education in containing antimicrobial resistance

This course was developed by OAZIS Health with the support of the Foundation to Prevent Antibiotic Resistance (PAR Foundation).

AMR and One Health for Community Educators

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest health challenges of our time. It threatens to make once-treatable infections dangerous again, increases the cost of healthcare, reduces the safety of food production, and puts both humans and animals at risk. AMR is not only a medical issue; it is a problem that touches every aspect of life, from the way we treat our families when they fall sick, to the way farmers raise animals, and to the way communities manage water, sanitation, and waste.

This course introduces you to AMR through the One Health approach, which recognizes that the health of people, animals, and the environment are closely linked. By the end of the course, you will understand how actions in one sector affect the others and why collective responsibility is essential to protect antibiotics for future generations.

As a community educator, you have a special role in this fight. People often trust you more than distant experts, which means your words and actions can directly influence how families, farmers, and leaders make choices. This course will prepare you with both knowledge and communication skills to explain clearly, guide communities, and encourage healthier behaviors that prevent AMR.

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain clearly what AMR is and why it matters to your community
• Identify risky behaviors in humans, animals, and the environment that drive AMR
• Communicate practical solutions using simple language and relatable examples
• Design small intervention projects to address AMR in your own setting
• Serve as an advocate for the One Health approach in schools, farms, households, and local institutions

Global Antimicrobial Stewardship

This course is designed to equip healthcare students and professionals worldwide both clinicians and para-clinicians with a comprehensive understanding of antimicrobial resistance from a global health perspective. It emphasizes the scientific foundations of antimicrobial resistance, fundamental principles in antimicrobial prescribing, and the far-reaching implications of these issues in diverse healthcare settings across the globe.

Participants will explore how antimicrobial resistance impacts global health, and how global collaboration is crucial in developing effective antimicrobial stewardship programs. These programs aim to optimize the use of antimicrobial agents to maximize their therapeutic benefits while minimizing the risks of fostering further resistance, which is a shared global challenge.

The course is intended to inspire healthcare students and practitioners across all regions to establish and strengthen antimicrobial stewardship initiatives within their local contexts. By addressing the unique challenges and opportunities in various healthcare environments, the course fosters a global approach to combating antimicrobial resistance.

With an estimated completion time of 10 hours, this self-paced course allows participants to engage with the material flexibly. Upon successful completion, participants will be awarded a certificate of completion, which requires passing the end-of-course evaluation with a score of at least 70%.

This course is a product of the fruitful collaboration between OAZIS Health and The Global Antibiotic Resistance Foundation (TGARF).