NICE advises on how to cut antibiotic prescriptions

Nurses have been issued new advice on how to cut the number of prescriptions for antibiotics.

In its draft guidance on antimicrobial stewardship, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) says that antibiotics are overprescribed even though they are not always the best option, and that some types of germs are becoming resistant to these drugs.

Nurses and other prescribers should supply information to the public on ‘self-limiting’ conditions such as colds, flu and earache which people often wrongly think require antibiotics, the guidance says.

It also suggests prescribers give patients advice and written information about the consequences of overusing antimicrobials, how long their symptoms are likely to last with and without antimicrobials, and how to manage conditions without them.

Pharmacies or the NHS Choices website should be patients’ first port of call for self-limiting conditions, it says. 

NICE deputy chief executive Gillian Leng said: ‘The new draft guideline focuses on intervention to help change people’s behaviour and reduce antimicrobial resistance. 

‘It also aims to increase awareness in both the public and healthcare professionals, of the overuse and misuse of antibiotics and the risks this could involve.’

NICE will consult on the guidance until October 20 before it is finalised in March next year. It follows related NICE guidance issued last month that urged healthcare professionals to cut the number of prescriptions they write for antibiotics.

For more information on the guidance, click here.