ENASPOC – the European Network for Antibiotic Stewardship at the Point-of-Care

Background

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is broadly recognized as a global threat that needs to be addressed urgently. Over-prescribing of antibiotics in primary care is a significant contributor to rising AMR, and respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are a major source of inappropriate prescriptions.

C-reactive Protein point of care testing (CRP POCT), and complementary strategies, are tried, tested, and proven to be very effective at reducing antibiotic prescribing without compromising patient safety or satisfaction when properly implemented. Yet mature adoption of CRP POCT in primary care is observed in relatively few European countries, with the Nordics, the Netherlands, and Switzerland leading the way.     

AMR increases the risks for us all and society as a whole would benefit from rapid and broad implementation of proven, available solutions like CRP POCT, rather than waiting for innovation in new antibiotics or diagnostics.    

ENASPOC is a new initiative to improve antibiotic stewardship in primary care and rapidly close the gap between available evidence and implementation.

Our Objective

ENASPOC aims to combat AMR, and keep antibiotics effective, by supporting the roll-out of existing, proven technologies that positively impact antibiotic prescribing and strengthen antibiotic stewardship in the treatment of respiratory illnesses in primary care. This includes CRP POCT and complementary strategies including guidance, training, and delayed prescribing techniques.

As of 2023, ENASPOC plans to support the execution of country-level action plans to drive behavioral change, strengthen antibiotic stewardship at the point of care, and bridge the gap between evidence and practice. The first countries in scope are Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK.

Who we are

ENASPOC is a multi-disciplinary network geared towards implementing actions that improve antibiotic stewardship in primary care. The network’s approach will focus on effective strategies, guided by scientific evidence, accelerating the alignment of practice and theory. Its strength will lie in the combination of the diversity of its members and the focus of its scope.

ENASPOC is broad in its reach with members from across Europe, including countries with both high and low levels of antibiotic stewardship and CRP POCT adoption. The network will bring together representatives from industry, academia, clinical experts, practicing physicians, policy makers, healthcare payers, and more. This diversity uniquely positions ENASPOC to drive action on a European scale, and beyond.

ENASPOC’s members include the Expert Group on CRP point of care testing to guide antibiotic prescriptions for respiratory illness and representatives from Abbott and MindGap. The Antibiotic Stewardship Conference in Brussels on 29 November 2022 marked the launch of ENASPOC’s efforts to keep antibiotics effective for future generations and stakeholders have been invited to join ENASPOC in this endeavor.

Roles within the network:

  • Expert Group – provide scientific credibility and evidence-based guidance;

  • ENASPOC Members – drive change in national working groups. Participants at the Antibiotic Stewardship Conference will create the blueprint for country-level action plans. Executing those plans will need further expansion of the network once activities are underway in each country;

  • Abbott Rapid Diagnostics Cardiometabolic – provide resources to support and connect the various stakeholders, internationally and within each country, and to facilitate collaboration and best practice sharing;

  • MindGap - Healthcare Market Research and Consultancy – provided organizational support for the Antibiotic Stewardship Conference in Brussels.

ENASPOC is an informal association of individuals and organizations sharing a common vision and objective. There are no formal obligations, requirements or affiliations linked to membership and no formal governance mechanisms are in place at this time. ENASPOC is a new collaboration that will grow and take shape over the coming years.