Misuse of Antibiotics: Consequences and Solutions
In an effort to combat the growing issue of antibiotic overuse and its contribution to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), public health agencies worldwide are advocating for several key guidelines. These measures aim to optimise antibiotic use, slow resistance development, reduce unnecessary costs, and protect antibiotic efficacy for future patients.
One of the primary strategies is the strengthening and expansion of Antibiotic Stewardship Programs (ASPs). These programs monitor prescription trends, promote adherence to clinical guidelines, audit prescriptions, and provide targeted education to healthcare providers. The goal is to ensure that antibiotics are prescribed only when truly indicated, especially in outpatient settings [1][5].
Another crucial aspect is the restriction of access to certain antibiotics. These antibiotics, classified as Watch and Reserve category, should be limited to hospital use only, requiring infection prevention and control (IPC) and Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) certification for hospitals. Retail pharmacy availability should be prohibited for these antibiotics [5].
Public and patient education plays a vital role in this fight. It is essential to communicate that antibiotics do not treat viral infections such as colds or flu. Instead, patients should complete the full course at the right dose and times, and only use antibiotics as prescribed. Infection prevention behaviours like hand hygiene, wound care, vaccination, and environmental cleaning are also emphasised to reduce infection incidence and thus antibiotic need [2][3][4].
Infection Prevention and Control Measures are another key component. Strong hygiene practices, including hand hygiene, clean medical facilities and equipment, aseptic techniques, and vaccination, are promoted to prevent infections that would otherwise require antibiotic treatment [4].
Regulatory and Surveillance Frameworks are also being implemented. National frameworks require hospitals to monitor and report antibiotic use and resistance data, maintain functional AMS committees, and undergo external audits to ensure compliance. Centralised post-marketing surveillance for antibiotic sales and usage by manufacturers with mandatory reporting is also being established [5].
Adherence to evidence-based prescribing guidelines is encouraged. These guidelines distinguish bacterial infections where antibiotics are appropriate from viral or self-limiting conditions where they are not [1].
Taking antibiotics outside of the supervision and guidance of a doctor increases the likelihood of drug interactions. Antibiotics can interact harmfully with some other drugs, and the more medications a person takes, the more likely those medications are to interact. Antibiotics can cause various side effects, including diarrhea, gastrointestinal disturbances, constipation, heart rhythm changes, organ damage, and allergic reactions [6].
To prevent antibiotic overuse, healthcare professionals should prescribe antibiotics only when there is clear evidence of infection, provide clear instructions, and ask about other drugs and past antibiotic use. Patients, on the other hand, should provide clear and specific details about symptoms and medical history, not take another person's antibiotics, not take old antibiotics, complete the entire course of antibiotics, take antibiotics exactly as prescribed, and practice infection prevention strategies [7].
Avoiding antibiotic overuse is important to prevent immediate health complications and the development of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Widespread antibiotic overuse allows bacteria to evolve resistance to antibiotics rapidly, creating infections that do not respond to typical treatments [8].
Antibiotic overuse is both an individual and public health problem. People who overuse antibiotics are more vulnerable to antibiotic-related complications like digestive problems, yeast infections, and allergic reactions. Overuse of antibiotics can also lead to more antibiotics in the environment, contributing to antibiotic resistance [9].
Antibiotic resistance is a significant concern, as it can cause infections that are difficult to treat and can lead to serious health outcomes and even death. For more resources on medical insurance, visitors can refer to the Medicare hub [10].
In conclusion, the fight against antibiotic overuse and antimicrobial resistance requires a coordinated effort from healthcare systems, regulators, providers, and the public. By working together, we can optimise antibiotic use, slow resistance development, reduce unnecessary costs, and protect antibiotic efficacy for future patients.
- The expansion of Antibiotic Stewardship Programs (ASPs) aims to ensure that antibiotics are prescribed only when truly indicated, especially in outpatient settings.
- Public health agencies worldwide advocate for limiting the access to certain antibiotics, such as those classified as Watch and Reserve category, to hospital use only, with retail pharmacy availability prohibited for these antibiotics.
- Communicating that antibiotics do not treat viral infections like colds or flu, and emphasizing infection prevention behaviors, is essential for public and patient education in the fight against antibiotic overuse.
- Infection Prevention and Control Measures, like strong hygiene practices and vaccination, are promoted to prevent infections that would otherwise require antibiotic treatment.
- Regulatory and Surveillance Frameworks, such as national frameworks that monitor and report antibiotic use and resistance data, are being implemented to ensure compliance and prevent antibiotic overuse.
- Encouraging adherence to evidence-based prescribing guidelines is crucial for distinguishing bacterial infections where antibiotics are appropriate from viral or self-limiting conditions where they are not.
