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Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses
11:17

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Published on: August 30, 2018

Improving antibiotic use: 25 years of antibiotic guidelines and related initiatives

Ken Harvey1, Jonathan Dartnell, Mary Hemming

  • 1Therapeutic Guidelines Limited, School of Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria. k.harvey@latrobe.edu.au

Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report
|June 17, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Concerns over antibiotic resistance and prescribing led to the creation of Therapeutic Guidelines: Antibiotic. Targeted education campaigns improved antibiotic prescribing, with the guidelines serving as a foundation for future strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Informatics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Rising antibiotic resistance and inappropriate prescribing practices in Melbourne teaching hospitals prompted action.
  • The establishment of a working party to develop guidelines for appropriate antimicrobial therapy in the late 1970s.
  • Therapeutic Guidelines Limited, an independent non-profit, now publishes these guidelines for Australian health professionals across major therapeutic areas.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the impact of Therapeutic Guidelines: Antibiotic on prescribing habits.
  • To identify strategies for improving antibiotic prescribing.
  • To explore future directions for guideline dissemination and integration.

Main Methods:

  • Development and distribution of Therapeutic Guidelines: Antibiotic.
  • Implementation of targeted education campaigns.
  • Analysis of sales, surveys, and endorsements across multiple editions.

Main Results:

  • Simple distribution of guidelines had minimal impact on prescribing.
  • Targeted education campaigns demonstrated a positive effect on antibiotic prescribing.
  • Therapeutic Guidelines: Antibiotic has achieved wide acceptance and use over 11 editions.

Conclusions:

  • Therapeutic Guidelines: Antibiotic is a key initiative contributing to improved antibiotic use in Australia.
  • Further strategies are needed to build upon the foundation provided by the guidelines.
  • There is a clear demand for consumer-friendly versions and electronic integration with prescribing software.

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