Dear Colleague
ANTIBIOTIC AWARENESS
Antibiotic resistance has increased in the past years to the point where it is now a major threat to the future effectiveness of antibiotics.The increase in drug-resistant bacteria now constitutes a serious risk to public health.
The contribution of prescribers to the promotion of antibiotic awareness is invaluable, as your advice is able to impact on patients’ perceptions and attitudes towards their illness and their perceived need for antibiotics.
Primary care is particularly important in this context, as primary care accounts for 80-90% of all antibiotic prescriptions.
Studies in Wales and some European countries have shown that a decrease in antibiotic prescribing in outpatient care results in decreased rates of antibiotic resistance. Therefore, there is a specific need to promote appropriate use of antibiotics with primary care patients throughout Europe. European Antibiotic Awareness Day – led by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and marked annually on 18 November – focused this year on working with primary care prescribers to promote appropriate use of antibiotics and inform patients about antibiotic resistance and other risks of improper antibiotic use, such as side effects.
Some prescriptions are driven by patient demand and diagnostic uncertainty. The European Antibiotic Awareness Day website offers additional resources for communicating antibiotic awareness in primary care, such as a demonstration of a patient dialogue method for resisting inappropriate patient demands for antibiotics, as well as links to further reading and ideas for ways to help patients. / From the Chief Medical
Officer/Chief Scientific Adviser/Chief Dental Officer/ Chief Pharmaceutical Advisor
Welsh Assembly Llywodraeth Cynulliad
Government Cymru
CathaysPark Parc Cathays
Cardiff Caerdydd
CF10 3NQ CF10 3NQ
CMO(2009)20
CNO(2009)9
CDO(2009)7
CPhA(2009)3
ANTIBIOTIC AWARENESS
Electronic distribution to:
Chief Executive Officers Local Health Boards
Chief Executive Officer Wales NHS Ambulance Trust
Chief Executive Velindre NHS Trust
Medical Directors Local Health Boards
Nurse Executives Local Health Boards
Chief Executive of Public Health Wales
For onward circulation to:
GPs
Community Pharmacists
General Dental Practitioners
Community Dental Service Managers
Heads of Pharmacy & MedicinesManagement
Nurse Prescribers
For further information contact:
Dr Sara Hayes
Welsh Assembly Government
CathaysPark
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ
Requests for further copies of this letter should be addressed to:
DG Operations Team
Health & Social Services Directorate General
Welsh Assembly Government
CathaysPark,
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ
Crown copyright 2009
This circular may be freely reproduced by all those to whom it has been addressed.
Wales’ first report into the use of antibiotics in primary care, which was published last week( reveals that 2.4m prescriptions for antibiotics were dispensed in primary care last year – almost enough for one course for every person in Wales.
The number of antibiotics prescribed and dispensed to patients has remained relatively stable during 2007 and 2008, but this followed a 5.8% increase in 2006, despite growing awareness about the problem of antibiotic resistance.
Taking antibiotics when they are not needed or not taking them correctly will lead to more bacteria becoming resistant. We therefore need to continue to reduce our reliance on the prescription of antibiotics for common ailments that could be managed in other ways. A Welsh Assembly Government leaflet, “Get better without using antibiotics”, explains the need to get the right treatment for common illnesses such as colds and coughs without encouraging antibiotic resistance. This is available at:
Practices and prescribing groups have worked consistently to inform the public about the appropriate use of antibiotics and to review local data to inform the dissemination of good practice. This remains very important work and your continuing support to ensure best practice is greatly valued.
Yours faithfully
DR TONY JEWELL ROSEMARY KENNEDY
Chief Medical Officer Chief Nursing Officer for Wales
DR PAUL LANGMAID JEREMY SAVAGE
Chief Dental Officer Acting Chief Pharmaceutical Advisor