News
Point of Care Safe and Optimal Antimicrobial Programme (SOAP)
University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust
Professor Jonathan Cooke, Director of Medicines Management and Pharmacy, and Director of Research and Development, Joanne Burgess, IT Operations Manager, Kelly Alexander, Antimicrobial Pharmacist, Barbara Isalska, Consultant Microbiologist, Susie Rushton, Research and Development Operations Manager, Steve Williams, Consultant Pharmacist and the Antimicrobial Committee (University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust).
The sub-optimal use of antimicrobials has been a problem for many NHS organisations for a number of years and has resulted in the overuse of and, consequently, resistance to these agents. Hard-copy antimicrobial guidelines and formularies (developed to reduce this problem) are often lost and not easily updated, whilst web-based versions are
inconvenient as they are not usually accessible at the patient’s bedside.
The SOAP programme runs on a personal digital assistant (PDA) to enable prescribers to easily access antimicrobial guidelines and a formulary at the patient’s bedside. This technology helps to ensure patients receive the appropriate care quickly, saves costs through a reduction in antimicrobial usage and will hopefully help to reduce the rate of Clostridium difficile and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection. It also encourages the greater use and value of PDAs at ward level.
There are plans to further develop the software to increase its sophistication in supporting the decision making process, and inform antimicrobial audits and the personal development of staff.
Image: Steve Williams, Consultant Pharmacist, and Professor Jonathan Cooke, Director of Medicines Management and Pharmacy (University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust).