Antibiotic campaign working
BARWON Health and hospitals across the country are attempting to stem the spread of drug-resistant viruses by cutting back on the use of antibiotics.
Between 2011 and 2015 the use of antibiotics in Australian hospitals dropped by 7.6 per cent, a report by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care found.
The findings suggest efforts to control the use of antibiotics that slow the spread of drugresistant viruses may be having an effect.
Barwon Health Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist Alicia Neels said the Geelong hospital regularly audited its antimicrobial prescribing practices.
“In 2016, our prescribing of two broad spectrum antibiotics (piperacillin/tazobactam and ceftriaxone) were reduced significantly, below the national average, and replaced by narrower spectrum agents, which is a great result for Barwon Health,” Ms Neels said.
“Our trends in antibiotic usage are in line with, or below national rates.”
Barwon Health has had an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in place since 2011 to help reduce the unnecessary prescription of medications in an attempt to stop the spread of resilient viruses.
Health authorities have warned excessive or unnecessary use of antibiotics has helped bacteria develop a resistance to the treatment.
A recent Bond University report found GPs were prescribing antibiotics up to nine times the recommended rates.