Antimicrobial Stewardship in Pharmacy: Leading the Frontline Against AMR
Tracks
| Saturday, August 1, 2026 |
| 3:30 PM - 4:15 PM |
| C2.5 + C2.6 |
Details
Pharmacists play a critical role in antimicrobial stewardship, especially as a first point of contact for many patients with a chronic wound. This session will empower pharmacists to be at the forefront of infection prevention and management. We’ll explore practical strategies to identify and manage wound complications early, reduce unnecessary antibiotic use, and combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We’ll also explore emerging evidence around pathogenic silver resistance, challenging traditional approaches to wound management. Attendees will gain the knowledge and tools needed to navigate wound care confidently, improve patient outcomes, and safeguard the future of effective antimicrobials.
Learning objectives:
• Identify signs of wound complications and infection that require intervention or referral.
• Discuss the principles of antimicrobial stewardship in the management of wounds in pharmacy practice.
• Recognise emerging evidence relating to antimicrobial resistance in wound care, including pathogenic silver resistance, and the implications for practice.
Competency standards (2016): 1.6, 3.1, 3.3, 3.5
Speakers
Aiwei Foster
Wound Nurse Practitioner
The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Antimicrobial Stewardship in Pharmacy: Leading the Frontline Against AMR
Biography
Aiwei Foster is a Nurse Practitioner specialising in wound and lymphoedema management, working in private practice and as a Wound Clinical Nurse Consultant at the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH). She coordinates the RMH Wound Resource Nurse (WReN) program, supporting best-practice wound care and education at the ward level, and contributes to clinical research, publications, and ongoing quality improvement initiatives. She is passionate about advancing patient outcomes through knowledge translation, interprofessional collaboration, patient partnership, and lifelong learning.
Aiwei is an active national and international speaker, and a regular presenter at wound care conferences in Singapore. She has an established speaking presence across the Asia-Pacific region, including Hong Kong, Macau, and Malaysia. She has represented Australia at APAC and Türkiye Wound Hygiene Board Advisory meetings, and has contributed to postgraduate education through collaboration with the National University of Singapore as a co-developer and lecturer for wound care modules and masterclasses. She has also been invited as a speaker at the World Union of Wound Healing Societies (WUWHS) Congress in Malaysia in September 2026, further strengthening her international engagement in wound management.
She is a faculty member of the Australian Wound & Skin Alliance (AWSA), where she has contributed to the organisation of its 2024 and 2025 Summer Schools. Aiwei also serves as a Chief Examiner for AHPRA OSCEs, is a member of the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners, and has previously held the role of Education Officer on the Wounds Australia state committee.