Aust antibiotic overuse
June 20, 2016
Overuse of antibiotics,
especially in Australian residential
care facilities, has been highlighted
by the Society of Hospital
Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA)
in an address by ceo Kristin
Michaels commenting on the
Antimicrobial Use and Resistance
in Australia (AURA) 2016 Australian
Commission on Safety and Quality
in Health Care report (PD 16 Jun).
Michaels said there is a
continuing misunderstanding
among Australians about how best
to use antibiotics.
“We have to address unwarranted
expectations among the wider
public that an antibiotic will
be prescribed for every minor
illness, especially respiratory tract
infections, and we also have to
improve the quality of prescribing
in hospitals,” she said.
“Although use of antibiotics in
hospitals has gradually declined
since 2010, the AURA report
indicates that 23% of hospital
antibiotic prescriptions were
‘inappropriate’”.
In residential facilities, Michaels
said the situation was particularly
accute with less than half of
residents being given antibiotics
having a suspected or confirmed
infection.
Dr David Kong, chair of the SHPA
Infectious Diseases Committee of
Specialty Practice and the National
Antimicrobial Stewardship Network
said, “We need to implement
the best approaches to reduce
and prevent inappropriate use of
antibiotics in Australia and optimise
patient safety and care.
“On a daily basis, pharmacists
are reviewing the safety and
appropriateness of medications
prescribed to patients, including
antimicrobials.
“Many of my colleagues
are working in antimicrobial
stewardship teams in their hospitals
to promote the appropriate use of
antimicrobials.”
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