Clinical Governance

The TGA have a new adverse events reporting CPD module hosted by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.

Completing the course will give you one hour’s credit towards your self-directed CPD.

The course aims to build on current knowledge and experience of AE reporting.

How does this relate to Clinical Governance?

• Reporting AEs ensures continuous monitoring and improvement of medicines, resulting in patient safety and quality care.
• When we report adverse events, community pharmacists meet their shared responsibility to identify and respond to potential risks and take action to safeguard our patients.
• This aligns with the principles of clinical governance - promotes accountability, strengthens safety systems, and fosters a culture of continuous improvement.
• Effective reporting ensures that patients can have confidence in the safety and quality of healthcare services delivered by community pharmacies.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is emerging as an increasing global health threat. A 2022 analysis¹ estimated nearly five million deaths associated with AMR in 2019 alone, with 1.7 million directly attributable to AMR. The World Health Organization (WHO) projects that AMR could result in up to ten million deaths per year by 2050² . The rise of superbugs and multi-resistant bacteria, exacerbated by the overuse and misuse of antimicrobials, is making bacterial infections increasingly difficult to treat.

Australia has one of the highest rates of antibiotic prescriptions in the developed world, underscoring the urgent need for health professionals to limit antibiotic usage and eliminate unnecessary prescriptions. A major challenge is that current bacterial tests take 24-48 hours to produce results, leading general practitioners (GPs) and other health professionals to prescribe antibiotics before receiving test outcomes.

However, there is hope. An Australian-first feasibility trial³ is underway at five clinics in Geelong, Victoria, using finger prick or throat swab tests to determine whether a patient's infection is bacterial within minutes. The throat swab detects Strep A bacteria, while the finger prick test is primarily used to detect bacteria in the bloodstream. A pilot trial will begin in May across general practices in regional and rural Victoria, concluding in October before results are analysed.

Community pharmacies play a crucial role in primary healthcare in Australia, especially in rural and underserved areas. Pharmacists practicing to their full scope are now able prescribe antibiotics to treat some everyday conditions, it is vital that community pharmacy teams are aware of the risks of over-prescribing.

Effective antimicrobial stewardship is integral to clinical governance systems and processes. Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs)⁴ ensure the appropriate use of antibiotics, which is essential for maintaining quality clinical care. Patient-centred care is at the heart of clinical governance, involving educating patients about the appropriate use of antibiotics and the potential dangers of AMR. This empowers patients to feel confident and in control of their healthcare while ensuring their medications are safe and appropriate through professional oversight. Involving patients in their own care is a key component of an ASP.

ASPs are part of a robust clinical governance risk management framework, helping to mitigate the risks of AMR and threats to patient safety. Clinical governance is based on a culture of continuous improvement, and education and training about the evolving landscape of AMR equip community pharmacists with the knowledge they need to keep their communities safe. Regular audits of antibiotic prescribing patterns help inform practitioners and identify areas for ongoing improvement.

By integrating antimicrobial stewardship into the clinical governance framework of community pharmacies, we can take a comprehensive approach to improving patient care, enhancing safety, and combating antimicrobial resistance. Together, we can ensure a safer, healthier future for our patients and communities.

Read more about the testing taking place in Geelong.

1. Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis - The Lancet
2. https://www.who.int/news/item/29-04-2019-new-report-calls-for-urgent-action-to-avert-antimicrobial-resistance-crisis
3. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-22/bacteria-test-prick-throat-swab-antimicrobial-resistance/104814058
4. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7778387/