Antibiotic Prescribing Guidelines are Lacking in the UK

Despite the range of antibiotics now available, patients are still dying as the result of uncontrolled infection. Medical and surgical developments have resulted in a decreased incidence of easily treated infections, but an increased population susceptible to organisms with low intrinsic virulence and/or natural resistance to many antibiotics. In addition, antibiotic use or misuse has led to the production of aquired resistance in many pathogens.

Clinicians face a difficult choice when it comes to selecting an antibiotic from the extensive range available. Many British hospitals have produced antibiotic Quide books and others have tried to develop antibiotic policies or guideiines. Antibiot'ic expenditure is being examined in NHS hospitals as the resuit of cost cutting exercises. This may be an opportune time to introduce treatments which are more effective for the patient but less destructive to the microbial flora. One must look carefully, for example, at the increasing popularity of prophylaxis in surgery and at the treatment of neutropenic patients, and those receiving peritoneal dialysis.

Although national guidelines have been set in some parts of the world, there are few in the UK which have resulted from a consensus of opinion. Williams, JO : British Medical Journal 288: 343 (4 Feb 1984)

2 INPHARMA® 25 Feb 1984 0156-2703/84/0225-0002/0$01.00/0 © ADIS Press

Antibiotic Prescribing Guidelines are Lacking in the UK

Despite the range of antibiotics now available, patients are still dying as the result of uncontrolled infection. Medical and surgical developments have resulted in a decreased incidence of easily treated infections, but an increased population susceptible to organisms with low intrinsic virulence and/or natural resistance to many antibiotics. In addition, antibiotic use or misuse has led to the production of aquired resistance in many pathogens.

Clinicians face a difficult choice when it comes to selecting an antibiotic from the extensive range available. Many British hospitals have produced antibiotic Quide books and others have tried to develop antibiotic policies or guideiines. Antibiot'ic expenditure is being examined in NHS hospitals as the resuit of cost cutting exercises. This may be an opportune time to introduce treatments which are more effective for the patient but less destructive to the microbial flora. One must look carefully, for example, at the increasing popularity of prophylaxis in surgery and at the treatment of neutropenic patients, and those receiving peritoneal dialysis.

Although national guidelines have been set in some parts of the world, there are few in the UK which have resulted from a consensus of opinion. Williams , JO : British Medical Journal 288: 343 (4 Feb 1984)

2 INPHARMA® 25 Feb 1984 0156-2703/84/0225-0002/0$01.00/0 © ADIS Press