Antibiotic points
July 4, 2013
NPS MedicineWise has published
new practice points for pharmacists
to help people using antibiotics
take them for the optimal duration,
so that they treat their infection but
help prevent antibiotic resistance.
NPS clinical adviser, Dr Philippa
Binns, said the continued overuse
and misuse of antibiotics means
that one day the vital medicines
may become ineffective.
“One way to stop the progress of
antibiotic resistance is to minimise
the duration of therapy where
possible, and assist patients adhere
to the intended duration,” she said.
“To help patient adherence,
we hope that pharmacists will
reinforce the duration of antibiotic
therapy according to the doctors’
instructions,” Binns added.
She said patients can also be
advised to return unneeded
antibiotics to the pharmacy.
The NPS Direct article ‘Duration of
antibiotic therapy and resistance’
which deals with the issue is at
nps.org.au/antibiotics-how-long.
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