INTRODUCTION

Antimicrobial resistance is a public health concerns and inappropriate use is a key driver. Minor infections are treated at Singapore nursing homes and there are significant variability in prescribing practices.  In 2018, the Ministry of Health, Singapore introduced the National Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines for Long-term Care (ILTC) facilities.

The guidelines specified that facilities should develop and maintain an antibiotic guideline for empiric treatment. To assist the physicians, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals in appropriate antibiotic use, the Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore worked closely with partners from the National University Hospital, Singapore, nursing home physicians and experts in infectious diseases and develop this set of empiric antibiotic guidelines for nursing homes in Singapore.