What Should Pharmacists Do to Contribute Their Expertise to Infection Control Activities?

With the aim of preventing infectious disease occurrence and spread among patients and staff in hospitals, infection control greatly contributes to medical safety and the improvement of quality of care. Pharmacists play important roles in multidisciplinary initiatives regarding infection control. Pharmacists have been actively involved in infection control at Iwate Medical University Hospital, since a full-time pharmacist was assigned to the Infectious Disease Control Office in April 2004. They have been involved in initiatives such as the transmission-based zoning system, the comprehensive prescription management system for antibacterial agent use, and handwashing campaigns. In addition, the mission of board-certified infection control pharmacy specialists is to address the importance of taking comprehensive measures, including the proper use of antimicrobial drugs, disinfectants, and medical supplies. To leverage their expertise in infection control activities, pharmacists need to understand the reciprocal relationship between the infection control team and antimicrobial stewardship team and produce tangible outcomes. In this respect, pharmacists should shift their overemphasis from “information gathering and analysis” and to developing “plans.” To do so, they should observe infection control from a wider perspective and should propose plans based on scientific and pharmaceutical evidence and operate the activities efficiently, with proper evaluation, for successful results.