Launch of DRIVE-AMS 18 November

On the 1st of November 2022, Radboud University Medical Centre (Radboudumc) and University of Antwerp joined forces to launch DRIVE-AMS, a new project funded under the EU4Health Programme. This project aims to intensify antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes across the European Union by improving prudent antimicrobial use (AMU) and strengthening AMU surveillance, which are both key priorities of the EU One Health Action Plan on AMR.

In 2018, Radboudumc developed the Dutch Antimicrobial Stewardship, Masterclass & Expert consultancy programme, providing a guidance for professionals and policy makers through the process of developing and implementing a successful Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in healthcare facilities. In 2014, the Global Point Prevalence Survey of Antimicrobial Consumption and Resistance (Global-PPS), was developed by the Laboratory of Medical Microbiology of the University of Antwerp, to provide a standardized, feasible and freely available web-based surveillance tool for measuring the quality of antimicrobial prescribing practice in hospitals worldwide.
These two programmes are now working together in the DRIVE-AMS project. It combines three key elements: knowledge transfer, measurement, and expert consultation.

DRIVE-AMS will be implemented in four European countries (Greece, Lithuania, Portugal and Romania) where national AMS experts will be trained as trainer. DRIVE-AMS will enhance the impact of sustainable AMS implementation, through:

• Understanding principles of Antimicrobial Stewardship through an online pre-course
• Identifying gaps in antimicrobial prescribing by a pre-course Global-PPS
• Providing a 4-day Masterclass for Antimicrobial Stewardship teams on development and implementation of AMS interventions. Prepare a plan of action for "My Project”
• Providing 6-9 month expert support for the execution of  “My Project” in the participants’ own hospital practice
• Measuring impact by a post-course Global-PPS

DRIVE-AMS will run for 3 years and will officially kick off with an online meeting on 9 December 2022, with the participation of all implementing partners: the Institute of Hygiene from Lithuania, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki from Greece, the Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy from Romania, and the University Hospital Centre of São João  from Portugal.