A report in the British Medical Journal warns GPs to curb antibiotic prescribing

Experts have again called on GPs to reduce antibiotic prescribing because of the danger of resistance.

The call came from the authors of a study published this week on BMJ Online First that showed prescribing amoxicillin to a child in general practice doubles the risk of beta-lactam resistant bacteria two weeks later. The authors said current levels of antibiotic prescribing could be enough to sustain resistance.

Last week a report published by the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy warned that many GPs were risking adding to resistance by continuing to prescribe antibiotics for 80 per cent of patients who consulted with upper respiratory tract infections.

Led by Professor David Mant of the University of Oxford Department of Primary Healthcare, the authors of the new study concluded that substantial and sustained changes in prescribing were required.

www.bmj.com

So if you have a common cold do not ask for antibiotics!