The intensive care unit at St George Hospital is celebrating the success of its research into antibiotics resistance, which has improved health outcomes for patients.
A study recently published in the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents showed that the team was able to reduce resistance to drugs by slowing the tide of infections.
Antibiotics resistance occurs when the bodie’s bacteria survives and continues to cause infection, despite treatment being given.
Australia has one of the highest antibiotic prescription rates in the world, with around 30 million prescriptions issued annually.
The intensive care unit is a potential hot-bed for the development of resistance because of the combination seriously ill patients and their susceptibility to infection.
Specialists carried out their study across seven years from 2008 to 2015, setting out to show that resistance can be slowed down by using antibiotics appropriately.
St George Hospital senior pharmacist, Suman Adhikari was part of the team who examined the long-term outcomes and sustainability of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS).
They analysed the effect of antibiotics on adults in the 15-bed intensive care unit at the hospital in Kogarah.
Post-AMS intervention, there was a reduction in patients needing to remain in the intensive care unit.
Interventions successfully demonstrated that there was also a decline in antibiotic usage and a significantly lower overall mortality.
World Antibiotic Awareness Week (held last November), which encourages the public to use antibiotics sensibly.
“Antibiotics resistance is growing, and everywhere in the world as well as in Australia, it’s the biggest public threat,” Suman Adhikari said.
“We were fortunate at St George where we were able to implement the program, working alongside infectious disease physicians, microbiologist and pharmacists, looking closer at patients who were prescribed antibiotics.
“We were looking at how they treated the bugs they were targeting. It showed how organisms are susceptible to drugs. This delivered bedside results.
“The evolution of resistance is inevitable. But if we choose and use antibiotics wisely, we can slow down resistance.”
