Controlling antibiotic use and resistance

In this issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases Apisarnthanarak et al. tackle an issue that is of major importance to all persons involved in infectious diseases. The message that a relatively simple and inexpensive although laborious intervention program can have a major impact on antibiotic use as well as on antimicrobial resistance should prompt all health care providers (not only those in developing countries!) to put even more effort into controlling antibiotic use and resistance. Antibiotic resistance is on the rise globally and it is mainly driven by the selective pressure imposed by (inappropriate) antibiotic use. Antibiotics are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in hospitals and infections with drug-resistant microorganisms increase the cost of health care length of hospital stay and mortality. Even in a country such as The Netherlands with its low rates of antibiotic use and resistance rates antibiotic use is often not appropriate. The major reason that antibiotics are prescribed inappropriately is that there is a lack of knowledge about infectious diseases and antimicrobial therapy; health care providers are afraid not to prescribe antibiotics. (excerpt)