Introduction of a mobile application platform as a decision support tool to enhance antimicrobial stewardship: an experience from the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance, mainly driven by inappropriate antibiotic use, is a global threat to health, requiring strategies to optimize antimicrobial usage. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs in hospitals promote the appropriate use of antibiotics to treat infections effectively, protect patients from the harmful side effects associated with unnecessary exposure, and reduce the risks of antimicrobial resistance emergence. Educating clinicians through antimicrobial guidelines has been a key function of AMS programs. However, monitoring access and utilization of printed booklets or intranet-hosted guidelines is complex and may not provide helpful feedback to the AMS leadership regarding their uptake by clinicians. Sheik Shakhbout Medical City, in partnership with Mayo Clinic, is the first hospital in the United Arab Emirates to adopt a mobile application platform for antimicrobial guidance and clinical decision support, including tailored antimicrobial choices based on local and national antibiograms and formulary. We describe the journey for adopting a mobile application platform, its content development, migration, and roll-out, and provide early insights on its impact through a descriptive analysis of user statistics.