Ann Marie Goode, MS is a Pharm.D. Candidate at Auburn University Harrison, School of Pharmacy. Ms. Goode was also a Pharmacy Intern at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Works program in the Fall of 2012.
Antibiotic resistance is considered to be one of the world’s most pressing public health problems. The number of bacteria resistant to antibiotics has increased over the last decade, resulting in many infections that are resistant to commonly prescribed antibiotic treatments. Repeated and improper use of antibiotics is a primary cause of the increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, jeopardizing the usefulness of these essential drugs – and the consequences of resistant infections are serious. Every time a person takes antibiotics, sensitive bacteria are killed, but resistant germs may be left to grow and multiply. These antibiotic-resistant bacteria can quickly spread to family members, schoolmates, and co-workers, threatening the community with a germ that is more difficult to cure and more expensive to treat. When antibiotics fail to work, the effects are longer-lasting illnesses, more doctor visits or extended hospital stays, and the need for more expensive medications. Some resistant infections can even cause death.
Decreasing inappropriate antibiotic use is the best way to control resistance. Patients, doctors, state and local governments and communities can all participate in this effort.
Antibiotic use varies across the United States. This map represents geographic trends in antibiotic use with Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and West Virginia among the highest prescribing states in the nation.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work program focuses on encouraging appropriate antibiotic use in the community. Additionally, some state health departments and community organizations have launched programs to combat this public health crisis. This map represents state activities in 2013 focused on decreasing inappropriate antibiotic use. The Get Smart program works with state and local health departments and partner organizations to provide technical assistance in implementing programs that promote appropriate antibiotic use in the community. Though many states have programs and initiatives to address this issue, there is an opportunity to do more in many parts of the country.
What is your state doing to decrease antibiotic resistance? Some highlights of the current work being done by states include:
- California: Partnered with health plans to identify and target education to high prescribers and patients and distributed toolkits (guideline compendia, cold care kits, patient tools) to high prescribers
- Michigan: Developed a webcast on resistance trends, prescribing, and patient communication
- New Jersey: Implemented a clinician academic detailing project
- Indiana: Provided antibiotic use education to the public in movie theaters before shows
There are many other ways public health officials, clinicians and the general public can get involved in improving antibiotic use in their own state. Following are some ideas:
What can public health officials do to improve antibiotic use?
- Partner with CDC to create a Get Smart program.
- Participate in Get Smart About Antibiotics Week each year in November.
- Reach out to the public with information on using antibiotics appropriately.
- Educate clinicians on appropriate antibiotic use and tips for communicating with patients.
- Disseminate educational materials to clinicians and the public.
What can doctors do to improve antibiotic prescribing use?
- Prescribe antibiotic therapy only when likely to be beneficial to the patient.
- Prescribe an agent targeting the likely pathogen(s).
- Prescribe the antibiotic(s) for the appropriate dose and duration.
What can the public do to improve antibiotic use?
- If an antibiotic is needed, talk with a doctor or pharmacist about antibiotic resistance and possible side effects.
- Do not take an antibiotic for a viral infection like a cold or the flu.
- Do not save antibiotics. Discard any leftover medication once the prescribed course of treatment has been completed.
- Take an antibiotic exactly as the doctor orders. Do not skip doses. Complete the prescribed course of treatment even when symptoms improve. If treatment stops too soon, some bacteria may survive and re-infect.
- Do not take antibiotics prescribed for someone else. The antibiotic may not be appropriate and taking the wrong medicine may delay correct treatment and allow bacteria to multiply.
- If your doctor determines there is no bacterial infection, ask about ways to help relieve symptoms. Do not pressure doctors to prescribe an antibiotic.
Go the Get Smart website to learn more about the Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work program and how your state or community can get involved.
Have questions? Please send an email to Get Smart staff.
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Public Health Foundation (PHF) is proud to be a partner of CDC’s Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work program by promoting and offering Get Smart materials through PHF’s Learning Resource Center. PHF is also leading an effort to develop and pilot a change package for public health to reduce antibiotic resistance. This initiative compliments PHF's collaboration with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) to help hospitals reduce healthcare associated infections due to antibiotic resistance.
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