How can we improve antibiotic prescribing in primary care?

Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2016;14(4):403-13. doi: 10.1586/14787210.2016.1151353. Epub 2016 Feb 24.

Abstract

Antibiotic stewardship is a necessity given the worldwide antimicrobial resistance crisis. Outpatient antibiotic use represents around 90% of total antibiotic use, with more than half of these prescriptions being either unnecessary or inappropriate. Efforts to improve antibiotic prescribing need to incorporate two complementary strategies: changing healthcare professionals' behaviour, and modifying the healthcare system. In this review, we present a broad perspective on antibiotic stewardship in primary care in high and high-middle income country settings, focussing on studies published in the last five years. We present the limitations of available literature, discuss perspectives, and provide suggestions for where future work should be concentrated.

Keywords: Antibiotic stewardship; general practice; intervention; nurse; pharmacist.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Delivery of Health Care / standards
  • Delivery of Health Care / trends
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial
  • Humans
  • Periodicals as Topic
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / standards*
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / trends
  • Primary Health Care / methods*
  • Primary Health Care / standards*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents