Antibiotic over-prescribing
August 15, 2014
THE Australian Research Council
will fund research into the
implications of over-prescribing of
antibiotics to the tune of $172,117.
This follows a study by the
Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health
Service (SCHHS) and the University
of Queensland which found that
doctors over-prescribed antibiotics
because they wanted the best
and fastest outcome for patients,
SCHHS infectious diseases physician
Dr Jennifer Broom said.
The Queensland Department
of Health said the funded project
would address the issue of
overuse of antibiotics on multiple
levels within the hospital system,
including examining the role of
pharmacists, doctors, nurses and
executive management.
NPS MedicineWise Medicines
Line manager Sarah Spagnardi said
antibiotic resistance was an issue
on an international scale.
Pharmacists played a key role in
helping people understand why
they had not been prescribed an
antibiotic for a virus like a cold
or flu as well as how to manage
symptoms, she said.
“Importantly, pharmacists are
also at the forefront when it comes
to helping people who have been
prescribed antibiotics to take them
correctly.”
The Society of Hospital
Pharmacists of Australia president
Professor Michael Dooley said
many hospitals had pharmacists
who had antimicrobial stewardship
roles, and hospital pharmacists
were expected to take leadership
roles in antimicrobial stewardship
programs.
It was the responsibility of
pharmacists to ensure appropriate
use of antimicrobials, he said.
Undertaking research in this space
was good news, he said.
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