Research Highlights GPs Overprescribing Modern Drugs
According to researchers, UK-based GPs are prescribing patients the most up to date and expensive antibiotics applicable, rather than cheaper, better value equivalents. The study was undertaken by a team at Liverpool John Moores University, with its results presented at the British Pharmaceutical Conference, which started yesterday and finishes on the 12th September. Those present yesterday heard how over 12 per cent of prescriptions in a certain area favoured modern drugs, frequently infringing industry guidelines.
Experts within the pharmaceutical sector urge that these medicines should be reserved for use only as a "last line of defence", in order to reduce the chance of bacterial resistance. Elsewhere, however, it was suggested GPs were employing suitable method when deciding on the treatment appropriate to individual cases.
Doctors working at both GP surgeries and hospitals are being placed under large amounts of pressure to minimise their prescription of antibiotics, given that, when over-used, the potential then arises for "superbugs" to evolve, which only a select few modern drugs can attack. Over the past few years, new drugs have been created in order to counter these threats. According to strict guidelines, these should only be used in moderation, and in cases where other, older medications have proved ineffective.
The researchers at Liverpool John Moores University based their study on the fact that 80 per cent of antibiotic prescriptions take place in GP surgeries. Their goal was to establish what drugs were being prescribed, and at what rate. Through analysing computer-based records, it was discovered that more than one in eight such prescriptions favoured modern drugs over their older, cheaper counterparts. In this way, the relevant industry guidelines were not being adhered to.
"The risks associated with this behaviour are that the drug may be unnecessary or inappropriate, increasing the potential of resistance and increasing costs to the primary care trust", they said.
According to the Head of Prescribing at the Royal College of GPs, Dr Jim Kennedy, a more in-depth assessment would be needed if a pattern was to be established here.
"We don't know if this is a couple of rogue prescribers, or whether there were good reasons why the guidelines weren't being followed", he said, adding: "The problem with guidelines is that none of them perfectly fits every situation."
Dr Kennedy suggested one possibility was that, with a general slump noticed in the prescription of antibiotics in the past few years, it could be gleaned that GPs were using modern drugs when appropriate.
In other news from the British Pharmaceutical Conference, the results of a separate study were highlighted; this time - regarding the situation for those prescribing antibiotics in hospitals.
A large number of patients are given antibiotics in limited doses prior to surgery, in order to slash the risk of them subsequently contracting an infection. However, the researchers, based at Sunderland University, found huge variation in the amount actually prescribed at one hospital in particular - the local City Hospital. Carried out over 2005, the study found, in one unbelievable instance, a lady was administered 81 doses of one medicine - as opposed to the (maximum of) five she should have had.
Consequently, the trust amended its system of electronic prescription so that doctors could input a date, after which antibiotic use is prohibited. However, with said doctors overestimating this date, and placing it too far into the future, cases of antibiotic over-prescription had actually increased, said the researchers - who highlighted the percentage change, from 55 up to 74.
As per Dr Rachel Etherington, the principal figure behind the research: "We think that doctors are still being overcautious about the risk of hospital acquired infections - perhaps partly due to media coverage of 'superbugs'."
Source - Pharmaceutical International's Health Expert
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