SAPG Network Event - 28 November 2025: programme and presentations

Next steps for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Scotland

10:00
Welcome and overview of UK National Action Plan within Scottish context
Alison Strath FRPharmS, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer and Deputy Director, Pharmacy and Medicines Division, Directorate for Chief Medical Officer, Scottish Government 

10:10
Challenges and opportunities with AMS in Scotland
Professor Andrew Seaton, Chair of Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group, Infectious Diseases Consultant, NHS GGC and Honorary Professor, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, University of Glasgow

10:25
Progress towards the NAP – HAI, AMR and AMU targets
Dr Janathan Danial, Clinical Lead (Acting), SONAAR, Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection (ARHAI) Scotland 

Diagnostic tools to support Antimicrobial Stewardship

10:35
Point of care testing in community pharmacy – impact on antibiotic use
Professor Efi Mantzourani, Professor in Pharmacy Practice, Cardiff University

11:05
Urine culture processing and reporting across Scotland
Dr Mairi McLeod, Consultant in Clinical Microbiology, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

11:15
Improving the blood culture pathway
Dr Ursula Altmeyer, Consultant Microbiologist, NHS Ayrshire & Arran

11:25
Q&A – Facilitator: Simon Dewar, Consultant Microbiologist, NHS Lothian

11:30
Coffee Break

SAPG Strategy and National Supplementary Targets

11:50
Overview of SAPG strategy and National Supplementary Targets (with breakout room discussion)
Dr Stephanie Dundas, Vice Chair of Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group, Infectious Diseases Consultant, NHS Lanarkshire

International Perspective

12:30
Global Antimicrobial Stewardship Accreditation Scheme (GAMSAS)
Frances Garraghan, Specialist Antimicrobial Pharmacist, British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC)

12:45
The Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardship (CwPAMS)
Fran Kerr, SAPG Project Lead, Healthcare Improvement Scotland
CwPAMS hospital leads, Ghana

13:00
Lunch

Local examples of improving practice

13:45

    • Interventions in GP prescribing systems
      Association of Scottish Antimicrobial Pharmacists (ASAP)

    • Penicillin Allergy de-labelling primary care
      Heather Kennedy, Deputy SAPG Lead

    • Reducing co-amoxiclav prescribing primary care
      Pamela Innes, Deputy SAPG Lead

14:15
Q&A – Facilitator: Dr Dave Rigby, General Practitioner, Langabhat Medical Practice and Realistic Medicine and Therapeutics Clinical Lead, NHS Western Isles

Research

14:25
Point of care testing in acute hospital care – an important AMS tool
Professor Antonia Ho, Professor of Infectious diseases, University of Glasgow

14:45
Associations Between Antidepressants and Antibiotic Resistance (ADAR)
Charis Marwick, Clinical Reader in Infectious Diseases, University of Dundee and NHS Tayside
Karen Barnett, Lecturer in Public Health, University of Dundee
Laura Ciaccio, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Dundee

15:05
Q&A – Facilitator TBC

Spreading Best Practice

15:15
Role of behaviour change and spreading best practise (with breakout room discussion)
Fran Kerr, SAPG Project Lead, Healthcare Improvement Scotland
Fiona Robb, Deputy SAPG Lead

15:50
Summary and feedback