Pasco's project; a united front to fight infections 

From Africa to Dorset, see how Team UHD is working with international colleagues to tackle antimicrobial resistance...

In November 2023, Dr Pasco Hearn, consultant microbiologist and head of microbiology at UHD, obtained £65,000 for a project called The Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardship (CwPAMS2) - from a fund aimed at healthcare partnerships. Funding came from Tropical Health Education Trust (THET) and the Commonwealth Pharmacists’ Association (CPA).

Pasco’s project, lasting 21 months, covers three key topics; microbiology, antimicrobial stewardship, and infection prevention control activities.

In May 2024, the team that was assembled by Pasco travelled to Dorset, and spent two weeks working alongside him and UHD’s microbiology, pharmacy Pasco’s project; a united front to fight infections and infection prevention and control teams to gain a better understanding of how NHS processes compare to those in the Ugandan healthcare system.

Here are their reflections...

Pasco: “I went out to Lira with Poole Africa Link, and after making some great connections I applied for funding for this project. The lead in Uganda is Dr Francis Kiweewa and he and I formed a team to address the issue of antimicrobial resistance.

“The approach starts in the laboratory to bolster microbiology services, so that we can make sure we find resistant organisms when they’re there. The next step is AMS, linking up pharmacy, the lab and the clinical teams, with the third prong being IPC.

“It’s great to welcome Maria, a microbiology scientist who runs the micro lab in Lira; Dr Frednald, a doctor who chairs the IPC committee; and Harriet, a senior pharmacist in Lira. They are all spending time here shadowing their counterparts in the NHS to see how a completely different healthcare system manages the same problems.”

Harriet Tino: “The hospital’s active involvement and role in patient care and management is great and something that has really stood out for me throughout my time here... ”

Dr Frednald: “In our system we don’t have someone assigned to IPC work the way you do. But I have seen that the connections between IPC and the other streams in the hospital is key for patient safety and care...”

Maria Apaki: “Since being here I’m learning a lot about what I can do in terms of treating patients. Patient safety is very key and there is proper screening of the prescription at every level. There are so many steps I’ve seen in the dispensing pharmacy that I want to implement slowly when I go back...”

Pasco: “I’m really happy that it all came together. Everyone has been very welcoming and these guys are putting in the time and effort in coming far away from home to a far and distant place. They have a different perspective with what they have seen from staff here at UHD; seeing how elements of our system will never really fit in their healthcare setting at the moment, but some of it definitely will be transferable. I think this partnership will go from strength to strength, and it’s been of huge benefit to myself and our team...”