Guidelines can reduce antibiotic use

According to scientists, simple guidelines into the correct use of antibiotics could reduce resistance, which has emerged as a major threat in the last two decades.

In a study published by Clinical Infectious Diseases, the Quebec minister of health and the Quebec Medication Council teamed up with physicians and pharmacists to create clear guidelines for the correct use of antibiotics.

The move was prompted by an outbreak of Clostridium difficile infections, which are often caused by the use of antibiotics, as the treatment kills healthy gut bacteria allowing the C. difficile bacteria to multiply in larger than average numbers.

Some 300,000 print copies and 193,500 online copies of the recommendations were circulated following the campaign.

This resulted in a drop in outpatient antibiotic prescriptions in Quebec by 4.2 per cent, a significant change compared to the 6.5 per cent increase seen across the rest of Canada at the same time.

"It is possible to decrease antibiotic consumption when physicians, pharmacists, state governments etc are working together for a common goal. This is the key to success: having everybody involved and speaking with a common voice," said study author Dr Karl Weiss of the University of Montreal.