GPs may be using suboptimal pneumonia treatment
A survey of GPs has shown that many may be using suboptimal antibiotic treatment to treat community acquired pneumonia (CAP).
Researchers at Warrington General Hospital North Cheshire NHS Trust presented
their work at this week’s American
Thoracic Society meeting in
San Diego.
They sent a questionnaire to 114 GPs. Replies from just over half (62)
showed that 28 per cent would not use the antibiotic recommended by the
British Thoracic Society guidelines and 75 per cent would use the wrong
dose. The guidelines recommend amoxicillin at a dose of 500mg–1,000mg
three times daily, or erythromycin for patients who are intolerant to
amoxicillin.
Dermot Ryan, a Loughborough GP with an interest in respiratory medicine,
said: “GPs need to be reminded to use a bactericidal dose of a
recommended antibiotic to treat CAP. This will increase the chance of
resolution of CAP … and reduce the risk of the emergence of antibiotic-resistant
strains of bacteria.” |
The
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