Co-chairs
Sharon Gardiner Eamon DuffyTe Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury Te Whatu Ora Te Toka Tumai Auckland sharon.gardiner@cdhb.health.nz
eamond@adhb.govt.nz
NZ ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP & INFECTION PHARMACIST EXPERT GROUP
WORLD ANTIMICROBIAL AWARENESS WEEK (18 – 24 NOVEMBER)
01 May 2023
Tēnā koutou,
World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) runs from 18 – 24 November each year. It aims to put the spotlight on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which the World Health Organization has declared to be one of the top 10 global public health threats1 . WAAW is an opportunity for us to work together throughout human health, and with colleagues in animal, plant and environmental sectors to raise awareness of AMR, and the need for both responsible antimicrobial use (antimicrobial stewardship, AMS) and effective infection prevention and control (IPC).
In the absence of any national centre or group responsible for leading and co-ordinating AMS efforts in human health, the NZ Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Pharmacist Expert Group (‘NAMSIPEG’) has led national initiatives for WAAW over the past three years. A summary of these is on our webpage
In 2023, the WHO and affiliates in the Quadripartite are proposing a rebranding/refocusing of WAAW to World AMR Awareness Week to represent the true awareness focus of the campaign more accurately and inclusively, i.e. AMR rather than the antimicrobial compounds themselves.
As discussed at the recent National Infection Services hui, our members are very stretched, and this work should be led by a central agency. We do not currently have capacity to create a new initiative for 2023 but, as we see this promotion as an important element of AMS in Aotearoa, we have committed to update and support a re-do of the 2020 Indication on Antimicrobial Prescription initiative.
Please let us know by return email what support your organisation is willing to provide for a national 2023 WAAW initiative focusing on documenting an indication on antimicrobial prescriptions, including but not limited to communications, resourcing and endorsement (with logo display) of the activity. See example poster here (the 20 DHB logos will be replaced with logos from endorsing organisations and professional bodies as we did for last year’s poster here)
In 2022, we had the greatest level of endorsement so far along with specific resource support for initiative materials provided by Te Whatu Ora, Manatū Hauora, He Ako Hiringa, Pharmac and the Health Quality and Safety Commission. We thank these organisations specifically for this support.
We look forward to your continued support and engagement. Please get in touch if you have any questions about this mahi and how we can work together on it.
Ngā mihi Dr Sharon Gardiner AMS Pharmacist Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Eamon Duffy Lead AMS Pharmacist Te Whatu Ora Te Toka Tumai Dr Chloë Campbell Professional Practice Pharmacist Pharmaceutical Society of NZ Inc.On behalf of the NZ Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Pharmacist Expert Group (NAMSIPEG)
Appendix I: NAMSIPEG’s working contact list for key people in organisations and professional bodies relevant to efforts to slow antimicrobial resistance2
Clare Possenniskie, Manager, Public Health Policy & Regulation, Public Health Agency
Andi Shirtcliffe, Clinical Chief Advisor, Pharmacy, Allied Health, Office of the Chief Clinical Officers
Ian Town, Chief Science Advisor
Clare.Possenniskie@health.govt.nz
Andi.Shirtcliffe@health.govt.nz
Ian.Town@health.govt.nz
Emma Hickson, Clinical Chief Advisor, Office of the Chief Nursing Officer Emma.Hickson@health.govt.nz
Jennifer (Jenni) Doyle, Team Manager AMR, ACVM Programmes & Appraisals
Jennifer.Doyle@mpi.govt.nz
Ministry for Primary Industries
Ministry for the Environment
PM’s Chief Science Advisor
Te Akai Whai Ora
Lucy Johnston, Senior Advisor AMR Outreach and Training Lucy.Johnston@mpi.govt.nz
John Roche, Chief Science Advisor john.roche@mpi.govt.nz
Warren Hughes, Principal Advisor, ACVM warren.hughes@mpi.govt.nz
Alison Collins, Chief Science Advisor Alison.Collins@mfe.govt.nz
Juliet Gerrard, PM’s Chief Science Advisor pmcsa@auckland.ac.nz
Riana Manuel, Chief Executive Riana.Manuel@health.govt.nz
Rawiri McKree Jansen, Chief Medical Officer Rawiri.McKreeJansen@health.govt.nz
Nadine Gray, Chief Nursing Officer Nadine.Gray@health.govt.nz
Margie Apa, Chief Executive Margie.Apa@health.govt.nz
Pete Watson, Interim National Lead, Medical Peter.Watson@health.govt.nz
Dale Oliff, Interim National Lead, Nursing Dale.Oliff@health.govt.nz
Te Whatu Ora
Australasian Society of Infectious Diseases
Billy Allan, Manager, Pharmacy Team Billy.Allan@health.govt.nz
Sue Waters, Chief Health Professions Officer, Te Toka
Tumai – Auckland SWaters@adhb.govt.nz
Nigel Raymond, Chair, NZ Subcommittee Nigel.Raymond@ccdhb.org.nz
NZ Microbiology Network Juliet Elvy, Chair Juliet.Elvy@sclabs.co.nz
Royal NZ College of General Practitioners
Samantha Murton, President and Chair rnzcgp@rnzcgp.org.nz
General Practice NZ Bryan Betty, Chair
C/- admin@gpnz.org.nz
Pharmac Melissa Copland, Senior Clinical Practitioner, Medical Directorate melissa.copland@pharmac.govt.nz
Sarah Fitt, Chief Executive Officer sarah.fitt@pharmac.govt.nz
Health Quality and Safety Commission
Nikki Grae, Senior Manager, Quality Systems, Infection Prevention & Control and Improved Service Delivery
Nikki.Grae@hqsc.govt.nz
Ruth Barratt, Infection Prevention & Control Specialist Ruth.Barratt@hqsc.govt.nz
He Ako Hiringa Anna Mickell, Programme Manager anna@akohiringa.co.nz
Bpacnz Rebecca Harris, Editor and Publications Manager Rebecca@bpac.org.nz
Murray Tilyard, Editor-in-chief, Executive Director CEO murray@bpac.org.nz
ESR Kristin Dyet, Technical Lead – Antibiotic Reference and Nosocomial Infections Laboratories Kristin.Dyet@esr.cri.nz
Mark Thomas, Associate Professor, Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
mg.thomas@auckland.ac.nz
University of Auckland
University of Otago
Sepsis Trust NZ
NZ Infection Prevention & Control Leadership Group
Siouxsie Wiles, Associate Professor, Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
s.wiles@auckland.ac.nz
David Murdoch, Vice Chancellor david.murdoch@otago.ac.nz
Paul Huggan
Paul.Huggan@waikatodhb.health.nz
Cam Howard Cam.Howard@waikatodhb.health.nz
Matthew Kelly, Chair Matthew.Kelly@huttvalleydhb.org.nz
ACC Rosemary Jarmey, Senior Project Manager
Infection Prevention & Control College
NZ Hospital Pharmacists Association
Pharmaceutical Society of NZ
Rosemary.Jarmey@acc.co.nz
Lisa Gilbert, Chair chair@ipcnc.co.nz
Sian Dawson3 , President siand@adhb.govt.nz
Kathryn Lawrie, Communications Officer Kathryn.Lawrie@ccdhb.org.nz
Chloe Campbell4 , Professional Practice Pharmacist c.campbell@psnz.org.nz
NZ Veterinary Association Grant Guilford, Chair executive@vets.org.nz
2 Most of the above were included in communications regarding WAAW 2022.
3 Also a member of NAMSIPEG
4 Also a member of NAMSIPEG, and co-author of this letter
Mānatu Hauora