Antibiotic use in residential 
aged care facilities

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Residential aged care facilities (RACFs) face a high burden of infections.
• Current infection prevention often focuses on surveillance, with limited evidence for antimicrobial stewardship in Australian RACFs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review antibiotic use trends and multi-drug resistant (MDR) organisms in Australian RACFs.
• To identify challenges and areas for improvement in antibiotic prescribing within this setting.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of antibiotic use and resistance in Australian RACFs.
• Analysis of current prescribing practices and identified challenges.

Main Results:

• Widespread antibiotic prescribing is prevalent in RACFs.
• Emergence of antibiotic resistance is a significant concern linked to current prescribing patterns.

Conclusions:

• Urgent need for judicious antibiotic use in RACF residents to mitigate antibiotic resistance.
• Stewardship is essential to curb MDR organism emergence, reduce adverse events, and lower healthcare expenses.