Well educated women could be adding to antimicrobial resistance
Storing antimicrobials for future use occurred in 4 per cent of
households |
There is an association between keeping leftover antimicrobials — including all antibiotics and antifungals — for future use and being educated and knowledgeable about these drugs, according to a survey of almost 7,000 households in the UK (Emerging Infectious Diseases 2006;12:1523).
Being young and female was also associated with an increased likelihood
of storing leftover antimicrobials at home.
Researchers visited 6,983 households in the UK as part of the Department
of Health Office for National Statistics omnibus survey. At each household
respondents were asked to show the interviewer all drugs in the house
that had been prescribed for infections. They were then asked whether
the drugs were currently being used, had been prescribed for a previous
infection or were being kept for future use.
The researchers found that 6 per cent of households had leftover antimicrobials
and 4 per cent were keeping antimicrobials for future use. The most educated
and knowledgeable respondents were twice as likely to have leftover antimicrobial
drugs as the least educated and least knowledgeable. Six per cent of
leftover drugs had been prescribed for less than three days and 61 per
cent had been prescribed for more than six days.
Repeated use of leftover drugs may increase antimicrobial resistance
in the community by exerting selective pressure in the commensal flora,
say the researchers. They suggest that if standard duration of treatment
could be shortened and package size reduced the temptation to keep the
drugs would be diminished. They also recommend that public education
campaigns should target well educated groups and emphasise that leftover
drugs should be returned to a pharmacy or should only be taken on the
advice of a health care professional. |
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