Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme

Our AMS Programme

The antimicrobial stewardship research programme has an overarching aim of optimising antimicrobial use in patients and helping to control the development and spread of multidrug-resistant organisms in healthcare facilities and beyond in Vietnam and Asia.

The objectives include:

  1. Understand the individual and environmental factors determining the prescribing practices of healthcare professionals and those driving the inappropriate use of antimicrobial drugs in patients to inform the design of interventions for antimicrobial stewardship
  2. Unravel the relationships between antimicrobial use and the development and spread of multidrug-resistant organisms in the interactions with other individual and environmental factors to define the impact pathways for effective implementation in antimicrobial stewardship
  3. Develop context-specific tools and behaviour change and stewardship interventions to support the effective implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programmes in healthcare facilities
  4. Evaluate the feasibility, impact and cost-effectiveness of different intervention strategies in healthcare facilities in improving antimicrobial use and controlling the development and spread of multidrug-resistant organisms and provide evidence for sustainable implementation and scale-up in local settings
  5. Identify contextual and structural barriers and challenges to the success of antimicrobial stewardship programmes at different levels and make recommendations for policy and actions to promote a supportive environment for implementation

Antimicrobial Stewardship Projects

These initiatives form a vital part of our concerted effort to counteract AMR, preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobial drugs, and ensure the best outcomes for patients.

Key Activities and Achievements

Qualitative and mixed-methods studies

Qualitative and mixed-methods studies to understand the barriers and challenges for implementing interventions, evaluate the impact, and perform an economic evaluation of antimicrobial stewardship in Vietnam (27HN, 34HN, 40HN, 46HN)

Burden of disease studies

Burden of disease studies evaluating the attributable mortality and morbidity of antimicrobial resistance in patients and risks of transmission in healthcare facilities and beyond (carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales and Gram-negative bacteria, 34HN and 58HN)

Implementation research

Implementation research on antimicrobial stewardship programmes with participatory action and multidisciplinary frameworks focusing on the current needs and gaps in Vietnam: four implementation research projects have been conducted targeting inpatients of three provincial and 6 district hospitals in Nam Dinh, Phu Tho, Hai Phong, Dong Thap and outpatients of three hospitals in Dong Thap, Quang Ninh, and Hanoi since 2019 (32HN, 30HN, 47HN, 47HNa)

Capacity building

Capacity building for research teams at OUCRU and at hospital partners: sending staff to training courses on antimicrobial stewardship overseas (United States, Singapore, Netherlands) and hands-on training periods and observership at hospital partners with effective programmes (Hospital for Tropical Diseases HCMC, Viet Tiep Hospital), training to healthcare professionals by leading experts in infectious disease, clinical pharmacy and clinical microbiology from national hospitals and universities in Vietnam.

Collaborations

Collaboration with international and national organisations and experts in antimicrobial stewardship implementation and antimicrobial resistance research: collaboration with the Duke Center for Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Prevention in research studies (32HN, 46HN), Professor Direk Limmathurotsakul microbiology lab at Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Technical Advisory Group under US CDC coordination in the development of context-specific antimicrobial stewardship assessment tools for healthcare facilities, World Health Organization Vietnam, National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Hanoi University of Pharmacy…

Policy and public engagement

Policy and public engagement activities through workshops and communication materials with the target audiences: two national-level workshops have been organised (2018 and 2023) on antimicrobial stewardship implementation, and one public engagement seed funding has been awarded to develop materials for engagement

Loading...

Team Members

1 2

Publications

SEE FULL INDEX
Loading...
Learn More

Related

Research
Locations

Forum Theatre Simulation

Analyse Tam’s choices. Step inside the story as an interactive spectator to break the chain of medical mishaps before it’s too late.

STORY TIMELINE PROGRESSION

5

The Ultimate Prevention: Vaccine Status

What if the volunteer leader had checked everyone’s Tetanus vaccination status before leaving for the field trip?

Vaccination Changes Everything

  • 100% Preventable: As you can see from our play, Tetanus cannot be cured easily once symptoms start and can be costly. But it is almost completely preventable with regular vaccination.
  • 10-Year Rule: Adults need a Tetanus booster shot every 10 years to maintain immunity.
  • Early booster shot: If you receive a deep or dirty cut (such as in the play, one from a rusty tool), you may need a booster if your last shot was more than 5 years ago.

When was your last Tetanus shot? Check your records today — a simple booster is the ultimate protection against unexpected accidents.

Restart the simulation

Forum Theatre Simulation

Analyse Tam’s choices. Step inside the story as an interactive spectator to break the chain of medical mishaps before it’s too late.

STORY TIMELINE PROGRESSION

4

Scenario Solved at Step 5!

Life-saving intervention! Jaw stiffness (lockjaw) is a classic symptom of active Tetanus toxin. Immediate hospital admission is required to secure the airway and control muscle spasms.

What if Tam had an ultimate shield against tetanus—protecting him from rusty tools before the trip even started?

Reveal the Ultimate Solution
Restart the simulation

Forum Theatre Simulation

Analyse Tam’s choices. Step inside the story as an interactive spectator to break the chain of medical mishaps before it’s too late.

STORY TIMELINE PROGRESSION

3

Scenario Solved at Step 4!

Good call! Healthcare providers depend on the full context. Clearly stating that an injury involved rusted metal alerts the nurse to assess Tetanus exposure immediately.

What if Tam had an ultimate shield against tetanus—protecting him from rusty tools before the trip even started?

Reveal the Ultimate Solution
Restart the simulation

Forum Theatre Simulation

Analyse Tam’s choices. Step inside the story as an interactive spectator to break the chain of medical mishaps before it’s too late.

STORY TIMELINE PROGRESSION

2

Scenario Solved at Step 3!

Spot on! Social media content often promotes unverified advice that delays crucial medical intervention. Deep, dirty cuts always require professional evaluation within hours.

What if Tam had an ultimate shield against tetanus—protecting him from rusty tools before the trip even started?

Reveal the Ultimate Solution
Restart the simulation

Forum Theatre Simulation

Analyse Tam’s choices. Step inside the story as an interactive spectator to break the chain of medical mishaps before it’s too late.

STORY TIMELINE PROGRESSION

1

Scenario Solved at Step 2!

Smart choice! Clostridium tetani bacteria thrive in organic material like dirt and leaves. Keeping raw plants out of deep cuts prevents pushing bacterial spores deeper into tissue.

What if Tam had an ultimate shield against tetanus—protecting him from rusty tools before the trip even started?

Reveal the Ultimate Solution
Restart the simulation

Forum Theatre Simulation

Analyse Tam’s choices. Step inside the story as an interactive spectator to break the chain of medical mishaps before it’s too late.

STORY TIMELINE PROGRESSION

1

Scenario Solved at Step 1!

Great call! By stopping work with high-risk, corroded tools, you removed the physical source of Tetanus exposure entirely before an injury could even happen.

What if Tam had an ultimate shield against tetanus—protecting him from rusty tools before the trip even started?

Reveal the Ultimate Solution
Restart the simulation
Skip to content