This National Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Policy provides a unified, comprehensive national framework for the responsible and optimal use of antimicrobial agents across all healthcare facilities in the Sultanate of Oman. It aims to support healthcare professionals and relevant stakeholders in promoting evidence-based prescribing and use of antimicrobials, strengthening infection prevention and control and surveillance systems, and improving the safety, effectiveness and cost-efficiency of antimicrobial therapy. Through these measures, the Policy seeks to optimize clinical outcomes, reduce the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and ultimately contribute to better health outcomes for all citizens. The key objectives of the National AMS Policy are to (i) ensure Optimal Clinical Outcomes, guaranteing that all patients receive the most appropriate, evidence-based antimicrobial therapy to treat infections effectively; (ii) reduce Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), minimizing the development and spread of AMR by promoting the appropriate, prudent use of antimicrobials; (iii) prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), through strategies to reduce the need for antimicrobial therapy, including infection control measures and the appropriate use of antimicrobial prophylaxis; (iv) promote Cost-Effective Use of Antimicrobials by preventing the overuse or misuse of antimicrobials; (v) standardize Education and Training, equipping healthcare providers with the knowledge and kills needed to implement antimicrobial stewardship practices and reduce the risks associated with antimicrobial use; (vi) support research and development initiatives aimed at improving antimicrobial stewardship practices and developing new antimicrobial agents; (vii) educate patients on the appropriate use of antimicrobials and the importance of adherence to prescribed treatments. The Policy calls for interventions in the following (i) the National Antimicrobial Formulary and clinical prescribing guidelines will be regularly reviewed and updated by the AMS Steering Group of the Health Committee for Antibiotic Resistance Control, taking into account national treatment guidelines, antimicrobial resistance patterns and local epidemiology; (ii) all healthcare facilities shall follow national antimicrobial prescribing guidelines, promoting accurate diagnosis, appropriate empiric and definitive therapy, timely de-escalation based on clinical and microbiological results, and evidence-based antimicrobial prophylaxis; (iii) Oman will adopt the WHO AWaRe classification of antibiotics into Access, Watch and Reserve groups, with antibiotics classified accordingly in prescribing and monitoring systems to enable the tracking of antimicrobial consumption by category; (iv) national consumption targets will be monitored, with the aim of achieving at least 70% of antimicrobial consumption from the Access group; (v) a continuous national education and training programme will be provided for all healthcare professionals involved in antimicrobial prescribing and management; (vi) public awareness initiatives will be implemented to increase understanding of the risks associated with inappropriate or excessive antibiotic use and the importance of adhering to prescribed treatment. Patients and members of the public will be educated on the risks associated with self-medication and inappropriate antibiotic use and encouraged to seek medical advice before using antimicrobials, follow prescribed treatment regimens, and use antimicrobials only as directed by healthcare professionals; (vii) Oman’s national antimicrobial resistance surveillance system will continue to monitor resistance trends and inform the national AMS programme; (viii) regular audits will be conducted across healthcare facilities to assess compliance with national AMS guidelines, including the appropriateness of antimicrobial use, adherence to national formulary recommendations, and the duration and dosage of antimicrobial therapy. Audit and surveillance data will be reported annually to the Ministry of Health (MOH) and used to inform and continuously improve AMS policies and practices; (ix) infection prevention and control (IPC) measures will be integrated with antimicrobial stewardship activities to reduce the transmission of infections and antimicrobial-resistant organisms, including hand hygiene; access to and appropriate management of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services and healthcare waste; isolation and cohorting strategies; and vaccination-related education to prevent infections that may require antimicrobial treatment. The MOH will be responsible for developing, implementing and regularly updating the national AMS policy and guidelines, coordinating national surveillance activities, providing the necessary resources, and overseeing and supporting regional and local healthcare facilities in implementing antimicrobial stewardship programmes. Healthcare facilities will implement national AMS guidelines through facility-level ASP committees, quality improvement activities, prescribing audits, training, feedback, data reporting and participation in national surveillance. Healthcare professionals will follow AMS guidelines, participate in ongoing training, and consult AMS teams when needed.
Оман · 2025-01-01