World Antibiotic Awareness Week: Antibiotics are being overused, especially IV antibiotics

November 19, 2019

On Monday we covered antibiotic resistance and we also hosted awareness events at Sandwell and City.

In July, we carried out a point prevalence survey on antimicrobial prescribing and found that 35 per cent of our inpatients were on an antibiotic. This is similar to other local trusts and the picture nationally. As we approach the winter period, this number is likely to go up.

Antibiotic consumption is continuing to increase in secondary care, but we are starting to see a decline in antibiotic prescribing in primary care which is very good news.

In our survey, almost 20 per cent of the total inpatient population were on an IV antibiotic, but how appropriate is this really? How many were on IV treatment because no one thought to ask if it was still needed?

Imagine how much nursing time is consumed by preparing and giving all these IV doses – how much time could be saved on every shift if we asked ‘Does this patient still need to be given IV?’.

We could free up more time for patient care.

We could also save money because most IV antibiotics are 20-30 times more expensive than their oral equivalent.