Wessex AHSN funded smartphone app wins NHS Innovation Challenge Prize

Congratulations to Dr Kieran Hand and the antibiotic stewardship team at Southampton General Hospital, who recently won the Infection Control prize at the NHS Innovation Challenge Prize awards.

Antibiotic resistance, caused by misuse and over-prescription, is making control and treatment more challenging hence the need to identify innovative new ways to control infections. Dr Hand and his team responded to the dilemma by producing the MicroGuide App, which offers an interactive library of microbiology expertise via the smartphone and reduces risk by replacing traditional pocket-guides which soon become out of date.

The smartphone application for antibiotic treatment guidelines has been supported in its development by Wessex AHSN’s Accelerator Fund. The system helps staff to consider alternative treatments for patients not fitting standard approaches, and has already contributed to significant reductions in high risk prescribing, faster recovery and better care.

Dr Hand said, "The app provides concise information for doctors on the front line. It allows treatment to be tailored to patients' circumstances, making it more likely to be effective and reducing the chances of side-effects."

The team was awarded £50,000 at the Innovation Challenge Prize awards to invest in developing the app further to promote responsible antibiotic prescribing.

Find out more about the NHS Innovation Challenge Prize winners in the awards brochure.