AUSTRALIA’S GPs are being sent a letter about their recent prescribing of oral antibiotics in a bid to reduce resistance to the drugs.
NPS MedicineWise wants the nation’s 28,000 GPs to “reflect” on their patterns of prescribing antibiotics in comparison to that of their peers.
Misuse and overuse of antibiotics have contributed to the resistance which occurs when the drugs lose their power to treat infections because bacteria are able to withstand their effects. The letter, mailed out automatically and confidentially to each GP and not seen by MedicineWise, includes data about all their PBS prescriptions for oral antibiotics in 2013 and 2014 and the classes of the drugs prescribed in 2014. It also lists the five most commonly prescribed antibiotics by the GP compared to all GPS in the area. The individualised prescribing data presents GPs with a “powerful opportunity” to consider their role in fighting antibiotic resistance, says the organisation’s CEO Dr Lynn Weekes. “The issue of antibiotic resistance is not something for the future – it is real, and it is here now in Australia and across the world – and even though this is a community-wide issue, as health professionals it is up to us to take a lead in this area.” NPS MedicineWise has also released a new survey showing while fewer people now ask for antibiotics when they have a cold or flu, many still mistakenly believe the drugs assist in recovering from the conditions. “It has become entrenched in our society’s thinking that antibiotics are an infinite resource but unless we dramatically reduce antibiotic prescribing when they’re not needed, we are looking to a future where they may no longer work when really needed,” Dr Weekes said.