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More on TARGET

The TARGET toolkit, developed by the UK Health Security Agency and hosted on the RCGP website, is an invaluable resource for supporting AMS in primary care including community pharmacy.

Designed to equip healthcare professionals with practical tools and evidence-based resources, it empowers community pharmacy teams to promote responsible antibiotic use, improve patient education and deliver consistent AMS messaging. Furthermore, the toolkit supports continuing professional development (CPD) and revalidation requirements, making it a comprehensive tool for AMS initiatives.

One of the key resources within the TARGET toolkit is the Treating Your Infection patient leaflet, which addresses common misconceptions about antibiotics while managing expectations for self-limiting infections. The leaflet outlines the typical length of common infectious conditions and provides clear guidance on when antibiotics are unnecessary.

Alongside this, it offers self-care strategies such as staying hydrated, resting and using OTC remedies to alleviate symptoms. By sharing these resources during consultations, pharmacists can reduce unnecessary antibiotic requests, empower patients to manage their health responsibly and promote better understanding of when antibiotics are really needed.

Screening and counselling

The toolkit’s Antibiotic Prescription Screening and Counselling sheet is another helpful resource.

It ensures patients prescribed antibiotics understand their proper use, potential side-effects and the importance of completing their course. This tool supports community pharmacy teams in delivering consistent and evidence-based AMS advice, enhancing the quality of care and ensuring a uniform approach to antibiotic stewardship.

The TARGET toolkit also provides significant value for team training within pharmacies. Its educational materials can be used to brief staff, ensuring that all team members are aligned in delivering stewardship and maintaining a person-centred approach during consultations. This alignment is particularly important for initiatives such as the Pharmacy First service.

By using TARGET resources, pharmacists can confidently guide patients towards self-care and appropriate symptom management. By embedding the toolkit into their AMS practices, pharmacy teams can play a crucial role in tackling antimicrobial resistance, safeguarding antibiotics for future generations and contributing to improved patient outcomes.

For more information on how community pharmacy teams can keep antibiotics working, visit Health Education England’s AMR Hub and complete the e-module on Antimicrobial Stewardship for Community Pharmacy (portal.e-lfh.org.uk/component/details/602874).

    

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