Call for tighter controls over unnecessary antibiotic use

Pharmacists have key role to play in ensuring antibiotics are used properly, says Irish Pharmacy Union vice-president

TIGHTER CONTROLS are required to stop the unnecessary use of antibiotics in Ireland, the Irish Pharmacy Union has said.

Kathy Maher, vice-president of the organisation, which represents more than 1,700 pharmacists, said despite increased efforts on the part of all healthcare partners to help control antibiotic resistance, more needed to be done.

Using antibiotics when they are not necessary allows bacteria to build up resistance against antibiotics, making them useless over time. “This puts the lives of future generations at risk as there are very few new antibiotics being developed,” Ms Maher said.

“Safeguarding the effectiveness of existing antibiotic medication is a priority.”

Speaking at the organisation’s annual conference at the weekend, Dr Fidelma Fitzpatrick, clinical lead for prevention of healthcare-

associated infection in the Health Service Executive (HSE) and consultant microbiologist at Beaumont Hospital, said that we needed to continue to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use to prevent a return to “the era of untreatable infections”.

She said the issue was not just about avoiding unnecessary antibiotic use, but also ensuring antibiotics were “appropriately prescribed and administered when they are required”.

“Local pharmacists who are obviously trusted by their patients can play a key role in this important issue,” she said.

Pharmacists could help by providing consultations and counselling to patients on the appropriate use of prescribed antibiotics, Dr Fitzpatrick said, as well as recommending symptomatic relief for viral infections such as colds and flus, where antibiotics won’t work, and they could also provide information leaflets on the correct use of antibiotics.

Also at the weekend conference, Bernard Duggan, pharmacist and chairman of the organisation’s community pharmacy committee, called for the introduction of a national cardiovascular screening service. Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in Ireland, accounting for 36 per cent of all deaths.

“The introduction of screening for heart disease and other chronic diseases through pharmacies could directly reduce the number of deaths from heart disease each year in Ireland,” Mr Duggan said. “This will not only save lives but will save money as well by reducing the need for expensive hospital care for those who are struck down with heart disease.”