An individual perspective
Written by: Delyth Ahearne, System-Wide Antimicrobial Pharmacist for Gloucestershire
I began my career over two decades ago, as a clinical pharmacist with a passion for patient safety and evidence-based care at an acute hospital in Gloucestershire. As I grew more experienced, I found myself drawn to antimicrobial stewardship (AMS).
As a discipline, AMS demands clinical judgment and precision, but also offers a chance to influence system-wide change. Antimicrobials intersect with almost all specialities, making AMS a uniquely integrative field with broad clinical relevance.
I was initially appointed to a junior role as an antimicrobial pharmacist, which then progressed to a senior role, and I became an independent prescriber. Then, just over 12 months ago, I was delighted to be appointed as Lead Antimicrobial Pharmacist for the Gloucestershire Integrated Care System (ICS), and I’m currently collating evidence for my Consultant Portfolio (if you don’t already know, the RPS provides a wealth of resources for Consultant Pharmacist credentialing).
My new role has enabled me to lead, while continuing in a patient-facing capacity and helping to shape our local AMS strategy, alongside the fantastic members of the Gloucestershire AMS ICS team. A recent project has involved setting up a pilot penicillin allergy de-labelling service, and has been very successful (and the RPS has resources on penicillin allergy and de-labelling).
Opportunities in antimicrobial pharmacy
Antimicrobial pharmacy offers a blend of clinical, strategic, and educational opportunities, including in:
- Clinical impact: Direct involvement in managing infections, optimising therapy, and preventing harm from inappropriate antibiotic use
- Leadership: Coordinating AMS programmes across systems, influencing prescribing behaviour, and shaping local guidelines
- Education & public health: Delivering training to healthcare professionals and leading public awareness campaigns such as World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) and European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD)
- Research & innovation: Contributing to audits, QI projects, and national initiatives on AMR.
An, even better, these roles can be national, spanning hospital, primary care, commissioning and academia, each offering much scope to grow and lead.
Why Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) matters
AMR is a global health threat, but as pharmacists we can all play an important role to:
- Ensure safe, effective, and rational use of antibiotics
- Prevent avoidable harm from toxic or unnecessary treatments
- Champion diagnostic stewardship and deprescribing
- Support patients with complex infections or allergies.
Pharmacy interventions are central to delivering these goals, and can be made in all areas to reduce resistance, protect future generations, and uphold the integrity of modern medicine.
The role of the RPS and the Expert Advisory Group
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) plays an important role in elevating the role of pharmacists in AMS, and also to increase awareness of our positive impact on antimicrobial resistance. The RPS Antimicrobial resistance and stewardship Pharmacy guide lists the top ten ways we can all fight AMR and promote safer antimicrobial use.
As a new member of the RPS Antimicrobial Expert Advisory Group (AMEAG), I am committed to helping drive change in the field of AMR and across every sector of pharmacy.