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NMH | 2024 177 Quality & Safety Services • Neonatal transfers: Compliance with MRSA & CPE screening for 72 neonates admitted from other facilities to NICU is 100%. Compliance with patient placement is 93%. 86% of transfers could not be isolated for medical reasons. 10/143 neonates transferred from NICU to other facilities, were positive for a transmissible microorganism. All receiving facilities were informed of isolation requirements in advanced of the transfers. Antimicrobial Stewardship The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) data collection of antimicrobial consumption was suspended in 2024 due to software issues, data validity concerns and limited resources. The decision on how to proceed/ new system for use will be commenced in 2025. As such, the 2024 data is currently unavailable and this report will focus on consumption data results for 2023, which were not reported in the 2024 report. Overall, our consumption for 2023 was 35.14DDD/100BDU which was up from a figure of 33.63DDD/100BDU in 2022. These results show a rise of 4% in our overall antibiotic consumption in 2023 compared to the previous year, however consumption is still in line with pre- pandemic usage. DDD: Defined Daily Dose. BDU: Bed Days Used. The National Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) was conducted in October 2024. The overall prevalence of antimicrobial use for patients on day of survey for 2024 was 21%. Data review examining prescribing of meropenem in 2024 identified that a total of 27 patients were prescribed meropenem (9 adults and 18 neonates). All prescriptions for carbapenems were approved by microbiology or in line with antimicrobial guidelines. Five audits or prescribing reviews were conducted to assess adherence to AMS guidelines (Pyrexia in labour audit, Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis prescribing audit, National PPS, Carbapenem prescribing, Sepsis audit). Achievements • Infection control audits including management of genital herpes. • Audit of water outlet flushing and usage – focus on Legionella management and sustainability. • National point prevalence survey (PPS) on antimicrobial use. • Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis audit and update of guidance. • Maintain microbiology laboratory ISO15189 accreditation to revised standards. • Commence green laboratory accreditation process and complete freezer challenge Service Development Plans For 2025 • Maintain surveillance, audits, education, training, policies, guidelines, leaflet updates & newsletters. • Focus on sustainability in infection control, laboratory and pharmacy. • Participate in national PPS on antimicrobial use. • Audit of restricted / reserve antimicrobial use. • Publish research regarding Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms (MDRO) in NICU • Second consultant microbiologist for NMH/RVEEH - carried forward from 2023 plans • Introduction of ICNet – carried forward from 2023 plans Dr Susan Knowles, Consultant Microbiologist. We won the award for the best poster presentation at the Annual Sepsis Conference 2024! Our colleague Lavanya Lakshmanan, Clinical Skills Facilitator, made the poster and presented it on behalf of the NMH Sepsis & IMEWS Committee.