Keeping antibiotics effective for future generations - it's everyone's responsibility
Antimicrobial resistance is a growing and significant threat to public health that is compromising our ability to treat infections effectively. It is widely acknowledged that antibiotic resistance is driven by high rates of antibiotic prescribing and it is critical that we work to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use. Evidence-based antimicrobial guidelines are a key tool in efforts to improve antibiotic prescribing, reduce the progression of antibiotic resistance and optimise patient outcomes.
This website has been developed as a key reference source for GPs, dentists, nurses and community pharmacists treating common infections in the community. There is now a hospital-related guideline page and the website is increasingly used to provide guidance also for hospital-based practitioners.
This resource has been developed as a collaboration between HSE Community Antimicrobial Pharmacists, the HSE Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control (AMRIC) team and the Information Specialist with HSE Research and Evidence. The HSE AMRIC Oversight Group, chaired by the Chief Clinical Officer, provides organisational oversight and governance for this resource.
Antimicrobial pharmacists for your area
This community antimicrobial stewardship tool supports the implementation of:
Aims
- To provide an evidence-based approach to the treatment of common infections
- To promote the safe and effective use of antimicrobials
- To minimise the emergence of antimicrobial resistance
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The Summary of Products Characteristics (SmPC) for any given medicinal product should be referred to as the primary reference source for information relating to that medicine. The SmPC contains the most up to date information on all licensed indications for use for any given medicine. Visit the Health Products Regulatory Authority's website for SmPCs for products licensed in Ireland.
An Ireland specific medicines subscription reference the Irish Medicines Formulary (IMF) is published twice yearly in A5 Book or online www.imfmedia.ie
Antimicrobial Guidelines Editorial Group
The antimicrobial guidelines expert advisory group and content contributors are a multidisciplinary group with General Practitioners, Antimicrobial Pharmacists, Clinical Specialists, Microbiology & Infectious Diseases Specialists, Community Pharmacists, Public Health Specialists, Infection Prevention and Control Nurses and Surveillance Scientists represented.
Community Antimicrobial Pharmacists co-ordinate reviews and updates of content on the website, linking between content teams, the website working group and the web editor.
They are also available at local level within their region for general advice and support relating to antimicrobial use and antimicrobial stewardship. They cannot offer advice on patient-specific queries.
| Area of practice |
Name |
Contact Details |
|
CHO 1
(Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan)
|
Aisling Clancy
|
aislingn.clancy@hse.ie
|
|
CHO 2
(Mayo, Roscommon, Galway)
|
Mary Eva Regan
|
mary.regan12@hse.ie
|
|
CHO 3
(Clare, Limerick, North Tipperary)
|
Shirley Armitage
|
shirley.armitage@hse.ie
|
|
CHO 4
(Cork, Kerry)
|
Patricia Sheehan
Callum Ryan
|
patricia.Sheehan1@hse.ie
callum.ryan@hse.ie
|
|
CHO 5
(South Tipperary, Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford)
|
Catherine Mannion
|
catherine.mannion@hse.ie
|
|
CHO 6
(Wicklow, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin South East)
|
Olivia Gallagher
|
olivia.gallagher2@hse.ie
|
|
CHO 7
(Dublin South, Kildare & West Wicklow)
|
Roisin Foran
|
roisin.foran@hse.ie
|
|
CHO 8
(Laois, Offaly, Longford, Westmeath, Louth, Meath)
|
post vacant
|
|
|
CHO 9
(Dublin North, North-West and North City)
|
Margaret Donnelly
Nora Dwyer
|
margaret.donnelly2@hse.ie
nora.dwyer@hse.ie
|
Other members of the website working group include:
- Dr Paul Ryan (Co-Chair), GP Lead AMRIC
- Mala Shah, Chief Antimicrobial Pharmacist (Co-Chair), HSE Community Operations
- Marie Philbin, Chief Antimicrobial Pharmacist AMRIC
- Ellen Martin, Senior Antimicrobial Pharmacist AMRIC
- Siobhán McCarthy, Web Editor, HSE Research & Evidence
- Dr Edel Doorley, GP Lead AMRIC
- Dr Scott Walkin, ICGP Lead for AMRIC
- Breedge Finn, Project Manager AMRIC
- Dr Eimear Brannigan, Consultant in Infectious Disease and Clinical Lead AMRIC
For specific queries, feedback or potential areas for development on this website, the website working group can be contacted through antibiotics.prescribing@hse.ie
There have been a large number of contributors to the development of guidelines available on this website over the years. In the interest of being concise we have listed the current members of the content review groups. However, we acknowledge the contribution made by all contributors over the lifetime of this resource.
Website contributors:
- Ajay Oza, Surveillance scientist, HPSC
- Aisling Rafferty, Paediatric Antimicrobial Pharmacist
- Dr. Alida Fe Talento, Consultant Microbiologist
- Dr. Anna-Rose Prior, Consultant Microbiologist
- Anne-Marie Maher, Senior Pharmacist
- Dr. Anne Sheahan, Director of Public Health
- Dr. Aoife Benton, GP
- Dr. Aoife Fleming, School of Pharmacy, UCC
- Dr. Aoife Ronayne, Consultant Microbiologist
- Bernie Love, Chief II Pharmacist, Clinical Services, CHB
- Breda O'Meara, Community Pharmacist
- Brian O’Donnell, Community Pharmacist
- Carmel McKenna, Antimicrobial Pharmacist
- Ciara Cronin, Antimicrobial Pharmacist
- Dr. Cillian de Gascun, Consultant Virologist & Lab. Director NVRL
- Dr. Claire Healy, Consultant in Oral Medicine, Dublin Dental University Hospital, TCD.
- Clare MacGabhann, National Lead of Nurse and Midwife Prescribing
- Dr. Cliodhna Ni Bhuachalla, Consultant Microbiologist & Lecturer, UCC
- Prof. Colm O’Morain, Consultant Gastroenterologist and National Clinical Lead in Gastroenterology and Hepatology
- Dr. Conor Mulrooney, Microbiology SpR
- Dr. Daniel Hare, Specialist Registrar in Clinical Microbiology
- Dawn Davin, Renal Pharmacist
- Dr. Desmond Murphy, Consultant Respiratory Physician
- Edel Burton, Hospital Pharmacist
- Dr. Elaine Walsh, GP and Clinical Lecturer, UCC
- Elaine Kneissl, Community Pharmacist
- Dr. Ellen Crushell, Consultant Paediatrician & Clinical Lead HSE/RCPI National Clinical Programme for Children
- Dr. Fidelma Fitzpatrick, Consultant Microbiologist & Lecturer RCSI
- Prof. Fiona Lyons, National Clinical Lead, Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme
- Dr. Frank Ormsby, Dentist
- Gareth Clancy, Community Pharmacist
- Mr. Garrett Durkan, Consultant Urologist, Galway University Hospital
- Hazel Kelly, Community Pharmacist
- Dr. Joan O’Donnell, Specialist in Public Health Medicine
- Dr. Joanne O’Gorman, Consultant Microbiologist
- Dr John Loughnane, GP
- Dr. Joseph Green, Dentist & National Oral Health Lead
- Jurate Godeliauskaipe, Community Pharmacist
- Kara Tedford, Paediatric Antimicrobial Pharmacist
- Dr. Kirsten Fitzgerald, Consultant Paediatric Dental Surgeon, CHI Clinical Lead for Paediatric Dentistry
- Leanne Flynn, Antimicrobial Pharmacist
- Dr. Lucinda Dockeray, GP, ICGP Nursing Home Interest group
- Mairead McGuire, Director of Pharmacy Services, CWIUH
- Dr. Margaret Creedon, Specialist Registrar in Clinical Microbiology
- Dr. Margaret McLoughlin, GP, ICGP Nursing Home Interest Group
- Prof. Martin Cormican, Consultant Microbiologist
- Dr. Mary Lucey, Specialist Registrar in Clinical Microbiology
- Michael Doody, Community Pharmacist
- Dr. Minna Geisler, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
- Dr. Nicola Cochrane, GP
- Dr. Niamh Galvin, Assistant National Oral Health Lead Quality
- Dr. Niamh Lynn, Consultant in GU/HIV Medicine
- Nikita Dyatlov, Community Pharmacist
- Dr. Nuala O’Connor, GP
- Dr. Olive Smyth, Medical Officer, HPRA
- Dr Oksana Kozdoba, Specialist Registrar in Paediatric Infectious Disease
- Dr. Oonagh Molloy, Consultant Dermatologist
- Dr Padraig Creedon, Principal Dental Surgeon
- Dr. Paul McDonald, GP, ICGP Nursing Home Interest group
- Dr Paul McKeown, Consultant in Public Health Medicine
- Prof. Paula O'Leary, Consultant Immunologist and Lecturer, UCC
- Dr. Rachel Grainger, Consultant Microbiologist
- Dr. Richard Drew, Consultant Microbiologist
- Dr. Rob Cunney, Consultant Microbiologist
- Dr. Roisin Connolly, Consultant Microbiologist
- Dr. Roisin Mulqueen, Consultant Microbiologist
- Ronan Quirke, Community Pharmacist
- Ronan Sheridan, Community Pharmacist
- Dr. Ruth Waldron, Consultant Microbiologist
- Sarah Clarke, Chief Pharmacist, HSE Medicines Management Programme
- Sarah Fagan (RIP). Antimicrobial Pharmacist. Forever grateful for her significant contributions in leading guideline reviews.
- Dr. Sile O'Connor, Antimicrobial Pharmacist
- Dr. Stanley Miller. Consultant Respiratory Physician
- Dr. Susan Knowles, Consultant Microbiologist
- Dr. Vincent Tormey, Consultant Immunologist
While every effort has been made to ensure all currently active contributors are acknowledged, if we have inadvertently omitted a contributor from this list please contact us via email antibiotics.prescribing@hse.ie
Reviewed February 2024
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