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Survey highlights major stewardship failures

Nearly 50 per cent of pharmacists do not have measures in place for antibiotic stewardship €“ despite regarding the reduction of unnecessary antibiotic prescribing a high priority. According to a survey of 214 pharmacists, sponsored by Reckitt Benckiser and run with the RB-convened Global Respiratory Infection Partnership:

• 61 per cent of pharmacists agreed that antibiotic stewardship is a high priority, but 46 per cent have no measures in place to tackle unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions
• 74 per cent felt they were under-utilised as a resource to influence prudent antibiotic prescribing in community and primary care
• 83 per cent would like to see more training for healthcare professionals about antibiotic stewardship and resistance
• 79 per cent felt they could have a greater role providing advice to patients on why antibiotics are not effective for most respiratory tract infections (RTIs)
• 78 per cent said they could educate patients about self-care
• 75 per cent said they could work more closely with GPs
• 67 per cent said they could provide alternative treatments.

Of the 65 GPs surveyed, 40 per cent reported that acute sore throat, pharyngitis and tonsillitis were the RTIs for which they received the most requests for antibiotics from patients. Thirty per cent said that acute coughs and bronchitis attracted the most requests, while 22 per cent cited acute otitis media.

Sixty-nine per cent of pharmacists said that patient pressure was the main contributor to unnecessary or ineffective antibiotic prescribing. Thirteen per cent said that constraints on GP consultation time were responsible.