When it comes to general healthcare in health clinics or doctors’ surgeries, antibiotic resistance is a risk for patients and healthcare professionals alike. Local surgeries and clinics are often on the front line when it comes to tackling infection in the community, which includes resistant bacteria such as E.coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
Resistant bacteria can be spread within these medical practices. The patients themselves may be carriers of resistant bacteria, which can then be spread to other patients or personnel by means of contaminated surfaces or poor hygiene procedures.
Antibiotic resistance is linked to the overprescribing or inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics (e.g. for viral infections). Taking antibiotics unnecessarily contributes to the emergence of resistant bacteria in the gut microbiome of the patient concerned and to the spread of such bacteria to those they come into contact with.
A lack of awareness amongst patients can contribute to antibiotic resistance. Patients may misunderstand the importance of taking antibiotics as directed (e.g. they may not complete the entire course) or be unaware of the side effects/adverse reactions of antibiotics.
Solutions exist
- Administering the right antibiotic in the right dose, for the right duration and at the right time
This means making the right diagnosis by conducting a thorough clinical examination and diagnostic tests if necessary, as well as any additional tests that may be required. Online tools are available to help select the most appropriate antibiotic. For complex situations, mobile antimicrobial therapy services and antimicrobial therapy consultants can be called upon. - Awareness-raising and educating
Healthcare professionals need to inform and educate patients; to explain the prescribed treatment; to issue delayed or back-up prescriptions (given to patients with clear instructions about ‘when’ to obtain the treatment in relation to their symptoms); to issue prescriptions that specifically treat viral infections; to recognise a true allergy to antibiotics; to be attentive to symptoms and aware of clinical progress; to warn patients about the use of anti-inflammatories, which can aggravate an infection in its initial stages. - Collaborating
All healthcare professionals involved in a patient’s care should network, working closely together. - Minimising the spread of infections
When administering care, healthcare professionals should strictly adhere to all hygiene measures, such as handwashing, disinfecting surfaces between consultations, using single-use or disinfected medical devices and equipment.