To the Editor: Antimicrobial resistance has been identified as a major concern in Australia, particularly as few new antimicrobial agents are being developed.1 Studies suggest that up to half of antimicrobial agents prescribed in hospitals are inappropriate.2-4 Antimicrobial stewardship interventions, including dissemination of clinical guidelines and restrictions on antimicrobial formularies, may not be fully able to account for the complex indications for antimicrobial use in hospitalised patients.
The full article is accessible to AMA
members and paid subscribers.
Login to MJA or subscribe now.
- 1. Gottlieb T, Nimmo G. Antibiotic resistance is an emerging threat to public health: an urgent call to action at the Antimicrobial Resistance Summit 2011. Med J Aust 2011; 194: 281-283. <MJA full text>
- 2. Hecker MT, Aron DC, Patel NP, et al. Unnecessary use of antimicrobials in hospitalized patients: current patterns of misuse with an emphasis on the antianaerobic spectrum of activity. Arch Intern Med 2003; 163: 972-978.
- 3. Willemsen I, Groenhuijzen A, Bogaers D, et al. Appropriateness of antimicrobial therapy measured by repeated prevalence surveys. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2007; 51: 864-867.
- 4. Robertson MB, Korman TM, Dartnell JG, et al. Ceftriaxone and cefotaxime use in Victorian hospitals. Med J Aust 2002; 176: 524-529. <MJA full text>
- 5. Paskovaty A, Pflomm JM, Myke N, et al. A multidisciplinary approach to antimicrobial stewardship: evolution into the 21st century. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2005; 25: 1-10.
Online responses are no longer available. Please refer to our instructions for authors page for more information.
No relevant disclosures.