Practices and perceptions of medical practitioners on potential antibiotic prescribing by pharmacists

Background Antibiotics have been a breakthrough in medicine; however, their use is also associated with risks, one of which is the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. The misuse of antibiotics is affecting not just the individual patient but the community at large. Objectives The aims were to investigate antibiotic practices among local medical practitioners and to assess their perception of potential antibiotic prescribing by pharmacists. Methods A questionnaire entitled ‘Antibiotic Prescribing Practices Questionnaire’ was developed to study medical practitioners’ perception and practices on antibiotic prescribing and to establish pharmacists’ contribution in prescribing and dispensing antibiotics. The questionnaire was disseminated to medical practitioners practising in Malta. Key findings 180 medical practitioners answered the questionnaire. Activity of antibiotic against the most likely pathogen present is the most important drug-related factor when prescribing antibiotics according to 88% of respondents. Diagnosis is the most important factor which influences the choice of antibiotic in 91% of respondents. Pharmacists are regarded as being competent to treat common infections by 36% of medical practitioners. Conclusions Medical practitioners state that a clinical examination influences their prescribing of antibiotics. They assign the concept of lack of clinical examination competence by pharmacists to be one of the determining factors in their lack of support for pharmacist prescribing. A collaborative practice between medical practitioners and pharmacists should be evaluated before embarking on proposing national structures for pharmacist prescribing.