Antibiotic awareness push
November 13, 2012
PHARMACIES across Australia
have been urged to “lead the way
in the global fight against antibiotic
resistance,” with the country’s first
Antibiotic Awareness Week
officially launching yesterday.
An initiative of NPS
MedicineWise, the week will see
pharmacists and pharmacy staff
encouraged to use a range of
resources to “engage consumers in
conversations about antibiotic
resistance and help change
attitudes and behaviours towards
antibiotics”.
Australia has one of the highest
rates of antibiotic use in the world,
with around 19 million
prescriptions written each year.
NPS MedicineWise resistance
fighter campaign launch kits were
distributed to community
pharmacists in July, with other
resources available online at
nps.org.au/antibiotic-awareness.
NPS chair Janette Randall said
that changing community attitudes
and expectations around antibiotics
is a “vital step in helping to combat
antibiotic resistance.
“Pharmacists are in a good
position to discuss symptomatic
management options, talk about
why antibiotics may or may not be
needed and explain what signs to
look out for that should prompt a
visit to the GP,” she said.
Alarming statistics released by
NPS found that more than 20% of
people surveyed said they would
expect an antibiotic for a cough or
cold, with the figure more than
tripling when asked about ear,
nose, throat or chest infections.
“By making people medicinewise
about antibiotics we can reduce
their use when they’re not needed
and, in the long run, help preserve
the miracle that is antibiotics”.
MEANWHILE NPS has also
launched a series of online elearning
modules which aim to
encourage the safe and appropriate
use of antibiotics in hospitals as
part of the program.
The training is particularly aimed
at hospital pharmacists, prescribers
in their first two years out of
medical school as well as nurse
practitioners.
The modules guide users through
initial clinical assessment and
diagnosis, investigations,
interpretation of results and
antibiotic selection, and reflect the
Guide to Good Prescribing issued by
the World Health Organization.
Four topics are covered including
surgical prophylaxis, catheterassociated
urinary tract infection,
bacteraemia and community
acquired pneumonia.
Antibiotic Awareness Week is
supported by the Australasian
Society for Infectious Diseases, the
Australian Society for
Antimicrobials, the Australian
Commission for Safety and Quality
in Health Care and NPS.
AND NPS ceo Lynn Weekes has
also launched a new personal blog,
with her most recent post including
a response to the Four Corners
“Rise of the Superbugs” episode on
antibiotic resistance - see
www.themedicinewiseCEO.com.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 13 Nov 12To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 13 Nov 12
