This is an excerpt of a blog originally published on Evidently Cochrane.
In this blog for non-medical readers, retired GP Dr Lynda Ware, Senior Fellow in General Practice with Cochrane UK, looks at new Cochrane evidence on reducing unnecessary antibiotic prescribing by hospital doctors.
Antibiotics are widely used to treat infections caused by bacteria and there is a year on year increase in the number of prescriptions issued. In 2015 NHS England reported a 12% increase in hospital inpatient antibiotic use. Studies have shown that patients who are hospitalised are highly likely to be given antibiotic therapy and up to 50% of all antibiotic use in hospitals may be inappropriate.
The overuse of antibiotics has led to an increase in antibiotic resistance, where antibiotics are no longer able to kill bacteria. This is a major public health problem and can lead to prolonged hospital stays and a higher risk of death. Inappropriate use of antibiotics is also linked to the emergence of healthcare-associated infections such as Clostridium difficile and MRSA, which pose a serious risk to patients, staff and visitors.
The cost of unnecessary antibiotic prescribing and of treating resistant infections is significant.
More than thirty years ago programmes (called Antimicrobial Stewardship) were introduced in hospitals to address inappropriate antibiotic prescribing and the increase in antibiotic resistance rates.
A Cochrane Review published this week looks at interventions to change doctors’ behaviour and improve antibiotic prescribing for hospital inpatients...