All CHQ staff are individually responsible and accountable for ensuring safe and appropriate use of antimicrobials (Antimicrobial Stewardship) in accordance with CHQ Antimicrobial procedures, guidelines and restrictions.

At the point of checking, preparing and/or administration, staff can utilise the CHQ AMS website alongside standard paediatric references, such as the AMH Children’s Dosing Companion and the RCH Paediatric Injectable Guidelines  to ensure that the patient is prescribed antimicrobials appropriately.

Checklist:

• Is antimicrobial appropriate for the documented indication?
  • Review of the appropriate antimicrobial guideline can ensure that the patient is receiving the right drug at the right dose via the right route and for the right duration, as per the Six Rights of Safe Medication Administration.
• Is it a restricted antimicrobial?
  • If yes, has ID Approval been sought and documented.
  • Should nursing staff notice in the process of reviewing an order that the review date for an antimicrobial has been exceeded without documentation of review or new approval number, follow the AMS escalation process detailed in the CHQ Procedure 01036 Antimicrobial: Management, prescribing and stewardship.

*Note that paediatric dosing recommendation in the below table is based on age and infection/disease state (Dosing recommendations based on normal renal and liver function. Seek expert advice if renal or liver impairment is present).