NEW data has found that antibiotic stewardship programmes can reduce the number of hospital infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria by 51%, the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has highlighted.
The research, published in The Lancet, also shows the number of people experiencing drug-resistant infections decreases further when infection control measures, such as good hand hygiene, are followed.
NICE says, healthcare professionals should select the dose, length of treatment and type of administration (for example, tablets or injection) that is right for the person and the infection.
"This stewardship helps to fight resistance because it preserves the usefulness of antibiotics."
NICE deputy chief executive Professor Gillian Leng said, "Antibiotic resistance is a concern for us all."
"If we do not act now we face a future where these medicines will no-longer work, which would mean people would die from routine surgery and other common infections we can currently treat.
"Stewardship programmes only work when everyone is on the same page.
"It can be hard work, but this new research shows the difference we can make when we work together. It is very good news."
Multidrug-resistant infections are caused by bacteria that can survive treatment with more than one antibiotic and are more commonly found in a hospital environment, NICE emphasises.
The health organisation is reviewing its guidelines for 'Antimicrobial stewardship' inviting feedback until 5pm GMT on Mon 20 Nov - CLICK HERE to submit.
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