Antibiotic Resistance - an issue for Everyone What role can - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Antibiotic Resistance - an issue for Everyone What role can pharmacists & healthcare staff play in preserving antibiotics?

What is Antibiotic Resistance?  Antibiotic resistance is the ability of bacteria to resist the action of an antibiotic  Antibiotic resistance severely limits the number of antibiotics available for the treatment of a number of diseases  Since the discovery and use of antibiotics, more and more bacteria have become resistant and developed numerous different means of fighting against antibiotics  Resistance is increasing and few new antibiotics have been discovered, antibiotic resistance is now a major public health threat

You may also hear the term Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Antibiotics are a group of antimicrobials and are the most important one to protect against resistance.

Why does it matter?  If we don’t tackle drug resistant infections now, they could kill an extra 10 million people across the world each year by 2050  No new antibiotics since 1980  We will NOT be able to: ⁻ Treat cancer patients with chemotherapy ⁻ Perform operations or invasive diagnostic tests e.g. Stents, knee/hip replacements, dialysis, prostate biopsy ⁻ Treat pre-term babies / have caesarean sections

NI - Department of Health Changing the Culture 2019 -2024 One Health strategy for tackling antimicrobial resistance in NI is aiming for a 15% reduction in antibiotic prescribing in primary care by 2023/24

Why we need to reduce antibiotic use in NI  NI 2017 - 1.76 million antibiotic prescriptions (approximately 1 course per head of population)  80% of antibiotic prescribing occurs in primary care from GP practices & Out Of Hours

Targeted use of antibiotics is important!!! It is important to recognise that this is not about restricting the use of antibiotics in all patients:  only a small group of patients really need antibiotic treatment  the large group of patients, who don’t need an antibiotic, need advice, reassurance and education Verheij TJM. The antibiotic revolution should be more focussed. Br J Gen Pract 2009; 59(567):716-717

Risk of side effects with antibiotics Any benefit patients achieve from antibiotics is small:  Antibiotics reduce symptoms for between 8 and 24 hours at the most  There is a 1 in 10 chance of causing side effects: − diarrhoea, − vomiting − rash − allergic reaction (1 in 15) − the risk of carrying a resistant bacteria which can spread to other people

Actions your Pharmacy can take to help reduce Antibiotic Resistance  Become an antibiotic guardian  Display posters and patient information leaflets  Provide patient advice on duration of common infections  Provide advice on self-care e.g. drinking plenty of fluids and rest to improve symptoms  Provide advice on prevention e.g. good hand hygiene is the single most important way to prevent the spread of infection

Patient Information Leaflet – help patients remember advice All sections can be personalised: • Products suggested • Self-care advice • Referral to GP “Most get better by ” - educates patients on duration of symptoms Self-care advice Safety netting - advises patients when to consult GP Information about antibiotics & AMR

Patient Advice is Important – make every contact count Research had shown that patients trust the advice you provide:  Only take antibiotics for bacterial infections not cough, colds, sore throats & flu etc.  Always finish the course  Do not keep unused antibiotics for future use  Do not share your antibiotics with others  Return unused antibiotics to the pharmacy

Promote Self – Care

Keep Antibiotics Working Living Well Resources  Keep Antibiotics Working Newsletter  Keep Antibiotics Working Counter Mat  Keep Antibiotics Working Posters & Leaflets  Keep Antibiotics Working – Take Your Pharmacists Advice Stickers  Pharmacy Bag stickers  Treating your Respiratory Tract Infection patient information leaflets

Other Resources  Patient Zone of NI Formulary - http://niformulary.hscni.net/PatientZone/YourMeds/ Pages/default.aspx  Antibiotic Guardian - https://antibioticguardian.com/  Public Health Agency - https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/directorates/pub lic-health/health-protection/antibiotic-awareness

Dr Michael McBride Chief Medical Officer NI “ This is the greatest danger to human health and to medicines worldwide. ”