THE size of antibiotic packs could impact on judicious antibiotic use with the risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) driving reconsideration of factors such as these, according to an editorial piece in the latest edition of Australian Prescriber.
Associate Professor of Pharmacology at Bond University Treasure McGuire outlines key issues around length of treatment and the AMR implications.
McGuire explains why longer treatment periods than often necessary are recommended, saying: "to improve the likelihood of success in clinical trials, a longer duration of antibiotics than the theoretical minimum may be used.
"Only after establishing efficacy are equivalence trials of shorter durations conducted.
"Ambiguity about the optimal duration of treatment for a particular indication contributes to uncertainty about how many doses to put in a pack."
See the write-up at nps.org.au.
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