Antimicrobial Stewardship Program - Education and Research

Education

Education is a vital part of a successful antimicrobial stewardship program. Members of our team are able to provide educational sessions to students (K-12, post-secondary), the general public, and health-care workers upon request. Please reach out to us if you would like to schedule a presentation on an antimicrobial stewardship topic of interest.

Research

Research drives innovation. The Antimicrobial Stewardship Program is committed to discovering new and better ways to promote the best patient outcomes with respect to antimicrobial use and to share our findings with other health-care providers, researchers, and the general public.

Our multidisciplinary team uses a broad range of research techniques, including qualitative and quantitative research methods, quality improvement methods, implementation science, and behavioural science.

We recognize that collaboration is important for a successful research program and we continuously seek connections with other researchers and clinicians for projects of varying complexity. We welcome students and learners of all levels and backgrounds and involve them in our research. We strive to involve patient partners in our projects to ensure that our research activities are patient-oriented.

Publications

• Saravanabavan S, McKernan P, Cameron S, Kwan N, Kang KT, Roberts A, Carr R, Mak R, Elwood C, Paquette V, Stimpson R, Abrahams B, Chan ES, Slayter K, Rahier A, Sainchuk I, Olsen S, Kucey M, Shamseddine J, Babiker ZOE, Wong T. Developing and disseminating an electronic penicillin allergy de-labelling tool using the model for improvement framework. Allergy Asthma and Clinical Immunology. (2024) 20(1):73. doi:10.1186/s13223-024-00942-3

• Zhanel G, Silverman M, Malhotra J, Baxter M, Rahimi R, Irfan N, Girouard G, Dhami R, Kucey M, Stankus V, Schmidt K, Poulin S, Connors W, Tascini C, Walkty A, Karlowsky J. Real-life experience with IV dalbavancin in Canada; results from the CLEAR (Canadian LEadership on Antimicrobial Real-life usage) registry. Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance. (2024) 38:154-157. doi:10.1016/j.jgar.2024.06.002

• Yasinian M, Carr T, Vanstone J, Azizian A, Falastein P, and Groot G.  Improving COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake in Saskatchewan, Canada: A Developmental Evaluation Approach. The Open Public Health Journal (2024) 17: E18749445288367. doi:10.2174/0118749445288367240311101720

• Vanstone JR, Azizian AR, Berry W, Carr T, Falastein P, Mise T-R, Patel S, Sarker KK, Yasinian M, and Groot G. Identifying Barriers and Enablers to Vaccine uptake from Immunizers and Individuals Receiving a COVID-19 Vaccine in Saskatchewan. The Open Public Health Journal (2022) 15: e187494452208012. doi:10.2174/18749445-v15-e2208012

• Khaketla M, Carr T, Ndubuka N, Quinn BG, Reeder B, Sarker KK, Addae A, Ali A, Groot G, Sari N, Vanstone J, Hartness CJ, and Zayed R. Community and Public Health Responses to a COVID-19 Outbreak in North-west Saskatchewan: Challenges, Successes and Lessons Learned.  International Journal of Indigenous Health (2022) 17(1): 73-86. https://doi.org/10.32799/ijih.v17i1.36703

• Vanstone JR, Patel S, Berry W, Degelman ML, Hanson C, Phillips C, Parker R. Using audit and feedback to encourage primary healthcare prescribers to record indications for antimicrobial prescriptions: a quality improvement initiative. BMJ Open Quality 2022;11:e001760. doi:10.1136/bmjoq-2021-001760

• Azizian AR, Carr T, Muhajarine N, Verall T, Hartness C, Vanstone JR, Yasinian M, Skrapek C, Andreas B, Farthing G, and Groot G. Developing a patient-oriented realist evaluation for COVID-19 vaccine implementation in Saskatchewan: a methodologic framework. Canadian Medical Association Journal (2021) 9(4): E1034-E1039. https://doi.org/10.9778/cmajo.2021004

• Groot G, Baer S, Badea A, Dalidowicz M, Yasinian M, Ali A, Carr T, Reeder B, COVID-19 Evidence Support Team (CEST). Developing a rapid evidence response to COVID-19: The collaborative approach of Saskatchewan, Canada. Learning Health Systems (2021): e10280. https://doi.org/10.1002/lrh2.10280

• Wade-Cummings M, Mailman JF, Degelman, ML, Phillips C, Vanstone JR. Identification of Staphylococci by Polymerase Chain Reaction Directly from a Positive Blood Culture and Effect on Patient Care. Can J Hosp Pharm. 2021;74(1):43-9. doi:10.4212/cjhp.v74i1.3039

• Lee C, Jafari M, Brownbridge R, Phillips C, Vanstone JR.  The viral prescription pad - a mixed methods study to determine the need for and utility of an educational tool for antimicrobial stewardship in primary health care.  BMC Family Practice 2020 (21):42 doi:10.1186/s12875-020-01114-z

• Pflanzner S, Phillips C, Mailman J, Vanstone JR. AMS in the ICU: empiric therapy and adherence to guidelines for pneumonia. BMJ Open Quality 2019;8:e000554. doi:10.1136/bmjoq-2018-000554

• Evans B, Kosar J, Peermohamed S. Attitudes and Perceptions amongst Critical Care Physicians towards Handshake Antimicrobial Stewardship Rounds. Cureus 2019;11(12): e6419. doi:10.7759/cureus.6419

• Lee C, Phillips C, Vanstone JR. Educational intervention to reduce treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria in long-term care. BMJ Open Quality 2018;7:e000483. doi:10.1136/bmjoq-2018-000483