Antibiotic stewardship--more education and regulation not more availability?
Open Access
- 2 September 2009
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
- Vol. 64 (5), 885-888
- https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkp305
Abstract
Antibiotics are overused across the world by prescription, self-medication or over the counter (OTC) availability. In the UK, the agenda to increase patient choice has stimulated a move towards greater availability of OTC antibiotics. This trend needs to be urgently reviewed and controlled. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is currently reviewing applications for reclassification of trimethoprim and nitrofurantoin from prescription-only medicines to pharmacy availability or OTC. It is important that anti-infectives do not become more freely available. With the quantity of antibiotic use linked to antibiotic resistance, Society should seek to preserve the use of this irreplaceable resource by education and regulation.Keywords
This publication has 20 references indexed in Scilit:
- Emergence of high-level azithromycin resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in England and WalesJournal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 2009
- 18 November and beyond: observations on the EU Antibiotic Awareness DayJournal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 2009
- The European Antibiotic Awareness DayJournal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 2008
- Invasive Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections in the United StatesJama-Journal Of The American Medical Association, 2007
- An overview of the Specialist Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance (SACAR)Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 2007
- Public education—a progress reportJournal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 2007
- The 2005 Garrod Lecture: The changing access of patients to antibiotics – for better or worse?Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 2007
- Outpatient antibiotic use in Europe and association with resistance: a cross-national database studyThe Lancet, 2005
- Self-medication of antibacterials without prescription (also called ‘ over-the-counter’ use)Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 1999
- Antimicrobial resistanceBMJ, 1998