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Antimicrobial resistance continues to pose a significant threat to public health in Nigeria. As frontline healthcare professionals, pharmacists are central to promoting responsible antibiotic use. The role of pharmacist in antimicrobial stewardship program is rapidly evolving across all states in Nigeria with 2025 marking a stronger national effort led by healthcare institutions and government partners.

What Is Antimicrobial Stewardship?

Antimicrobial stewardship refers to coordinated strategies and actions aimed at promoting the responsible use of antimicrobial medicines. These programs focus on optimizing therapy outcomes, reducing misuse, and slowing the development of resistance. In Nigeria, stewardship programs are gaining recognition for their importance in both community and hospital settings.

Who Are Pharmacists in Antimicrobial Stewardship?

Pharmacists are medication experts trained to guide safe and effective drug use. In antimicrobial stewardship teams across Nigeria, they serve as clinical advisors, educators, and quality assurance agents. Their expertise allows them to identify inappropriate prescriptions and recommend alternative therapies. Whether in public hospitals in Lagos or private clinics in Kano, pharmacists play a similar role in protecting antibiotic integrity.

Where Do Pharmacists Practice Antimicrobial Stewardship?

The role of pharmacist in antimicrobial stewardship program is implemented in several healthcare environments throughout Nigeria. These include:

Tertiary teaching hospitals in Abuja

State general hospitals in Rivers

Primary healthcare centers in Kwara

Community pharmacies in Anambra

Federal Medical Centres in Ogun

With support from the Federal Ministry of Health and NAFDAC, Nigerian pharmacists are integrating stewardship practices across both rural and urban areas.

When Did Pharmacist Involvement Begin in Nigeria?

Pharmacist participation in antimicrobial stewardship in Nigeria gained traction after 2017, following the launch of the National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance. However, notable expansion occurred in 2021 with the formation of antimicrobial stewardship committees in tertiary hospitals. As of 2025, more than 30 state-wide training programs for pharmacists have been held, contributing to stronger implementation across public and private facilities.

Why Is Pharmacist Involvement Critical?

Pharmacists serve a critical function in stewardship for several reasons:

Clinical Decision Support: Pharmacists provide real-time advice on antimicrobial selection and dosage

Monitoring and Surveillance: They review patient charts for antibiotic overuse and inappropriate duration

Patient Education: Pharmacists counsel patients on completing antibiotic courses and avoiding self-medication

Formulary Management: They help manage hospital formularies by restricting irrational antibiotic procurement

In Nigeria where access to over-the-counter antibiotics remains a challenge, pharmacists help reduce the ease of misuse through advocacy and education.

How Do Pharmacists Contribute to Stewardship Programs?

Pharmacists apply both clinical and administrative skills in stewardship efforts. Some of the ways include:

Prescription Review and Intervention

Pharmacists in stewardship programs regularly review antibiotic prescriptions to ensure they meet evidence-based criteria. For example, in a hospital in Enugu, a pharmacist may question the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics for minor infections and recommend narrow-spectrum options. This feedback prevents resistance and ensures better outcomes.

Laboratory Collaboration

Pharmacists work closely with microbiologists to interpret culture results. They ensure the prescribed antibiotics match the identified pathogens. This approach is increasingly being applied in teaching hospitals in Oyo and Benue.

Participation in AMS Committees

In Nigeria, pharmacists are official members of Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) committees. These committees meet regularly to review resistance patterns and revise treatment protocols. In 2025, pharmacists in 24 Nigerian states are actively participating in these committees according to the Nigerian National AMS Surveillance Network.

Capacity Building and Policy Advocacy

Pharmacists are also involved in training fellow healthcare workers about proper antibiotic use. In 2025, the Nigerian Association of Pharmacists in Academia and the Nigerian Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development held multiple seminars across states like Delta, Gombe, and Zamfara, emphasizing pharmacist-driven stewardship.

Which Skills Are Required for Pharmacists in AMS?

To be effective in stewardship roles, pharmacists in Nigeria must possess:

Clinical pharmacology expertise

Infectious disease knowledge

Communication and advocacy skills

Familiarity with national antibiotic guidelines

Data analysis for tracking antibiotic use trends

As of 2025, postgraduate training in infectious disease pharmacy is being promoted by institutions like the University of Nigeria Nsukka and Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.

Whose Responsibility Is It to Empower Pharmacists?

The responsibility to empower pharmacists falls on healthcare institutions, government agencies, academic institutions, and regulatory bodies. NAFDAC and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria are responsible for enforcing responsible prescribing practices. The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control has also partnered with pharmacists to build national surveillance frameworks.

In addition, organizations like the Nigerian Network for Antimicrobial Stewardship and Training are working to ensure that the role of pharmacist in antimicrobial stewardship program is recognized and supported nationally.

What Are the 2025 Updates on Pharmacist Stewardship in Nigeria?

Here are the latest 2025 developments:

National AMS Curriculum: A pharmacist-centered curriculum was adopted for all postgraduate pharmacy training institutions

Digital Surveillance Platforms: Pharmacists are now entering data into electronic stewardship dashboards for real-time tracking

Mobile AMS Units: In underserved rural areas, mobile pharmacist-led teams are conducting stewardship interventions in places like Taraba and Sokoto

Expanded Community Pharmacy Role: Community pharmacists in urban centers such as Port Harcourt and Kaduna are now involved in direct patient counseling and prescription audits

How Can Nigeria Improve Pharmacist Involvement Further?

To further strengthen the antimicrobial stewardship efforts, Nigeria must:

Increase government funding for pharmacist training

Mandate pharmacist involvement in every hospital AMS team

Regulate antibiotic dispensing across community pharmacies

Expand access to diagnostic tools for informed antibiotic choices

Conclusion

The role of pharmacist in antimicrobial stewardship program is indispensable in Nigeria’s battle against antimicrobial resistance. Pharmacists across the country are not only clinical practitioners but also educators, researchers, and policy advocates. Their involvement ensures the safe use of antibiotics and contributes to the global goal of preserving these life-saving medicines for future generations. With continued national support and interprofessional collaboration, Nigerian pharmacists will remain at the forefront of this critical public health initiative.