New Zealand Antimicrobial Stewardship & Infection Pharmacist Expert Group (NAMSIPEG)
About NAMSIPEG
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global crisis, slower burning than COVID-19 but potentially as catastrophic. It is a growing problem in Aotearoa New Zealand and may cost us dearly – longer hospital stays, poorer outcomes from interventions like surgery and cancer-related care, increased mortality, and elevated healthcare costs.
The New Zealand Antimicrobial Stewardship/Infection Pharmacist Expert Group (NAMSIPEG) aims to progress antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in Aotearoa New Zealand. The group is mainly made up of hospital-based pharmacists who specialise in AMS/infection and is strengthened by collaboration with both NZHPA and PSNZ.
Activities
Over its first two years, NAMSIPEG have been involved in a range of activities:
- Led three national initiative for World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, each year building on the success of the previous year:
- Collaborated with ~60 pharmacists, doctors and nurses to publish a viewpoint in the New Zealand Medical Journal calling for national leadership and co-ordination of AMS activities.
- Continues to advocate for antimicrobial stewardship nationally and to support consistent best practice via engagement with relevant stakeholders including Manatu Hauora - Ministry of Health, Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand, Pharmac, Health Quality Safety Commission, He Ako Hiringa, NZ Formulary, NZHPA Notes on Injectable Drugs, ESR.
- Members (or have recently been involved in) various national groups including the:
- Health Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Coordination Group (MOH)
- Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister Expert Panel for 2022 report - Kotahitanga: Uniting Aotearoa against infectious disease and antimicrobial resistance
- COVID-19 Therapeutic TAG (MOH and Pharmac)
- Anti-Infective subcommittee (Pharmac)
- Infection Prevention Advisory Group (ACC)
- National Infection Prevention and Control Expert Group (MOH)
- Collaborations with ASID-NZ and Sepsis Trust
Future directions
Over the next couple of years we hope to land WAAW initiatives that are meaningful for the Aotearoa NZ context, including a focus on equity and on blending antimicrobial stewardship into sepsis management.
Members
- Sharon Gardiner - Te Whatu Ora - Waitaha Canterbury (Co-lead) Sharon.Gardiner@cdhb.health.nz
- Eamon Duffy - Te Whatu Ora - Te Toka Tumai Auckland (Co-lead) EamonD@adhb.govt.nz
- Emma Henderson - Te Whatu Ora - Taranaki (Secretary)
- Carla Dawson - Te Whatu Ora - Te Tai Tokerau
- Cat Li - Te Whatu Ora - Te Toka Tumai Auckland
- Nicola Davies and Mariam Hardie - Te Whatu Ora - Waitemata
- Natasha Pool - Te Whatu Ora - Counties Manukau
- Leah Chen and Tanya du Plessis - Te Whatu Ora - Bay of Plenty
- Mo Issa - Te Whatu Ora - Waikato
- Jean-Pierre (JP) Meyer - Te Whatu Ora - Lakes
- Ben Robertson - Te Whatu Ora - Hawkes’s Bay
- Grant McRae - Te Whatu Ora - MidCentral
- Da-Kyung (DK) Lee and Lucy Stewart - Te Whatu Ora - Capital, Coast & Hutt Valley
- Kristel Yee and Joyce Lim - Te Whatu Ora - Southern
- Lauren Smith - University of Otago
- Chloë Campbell - PSNZ
- Sian Dawson - NZHPA