Canadians resist the urge to overuse antibiotics

CMA News 2000;10(4): 3

Two new polls suggest that Canadians are getting the message that overuse of antibiotics can lead to the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Two Angus Reid surveys suggest that most physicians and patients have adjusted their habits over the last 3 years and now are more judicious in prescribing and using antibiotics. Researchers tracking isolates of antibiotic-resistant bacteria have also found a corresponding decrease in certain "antibiotic" resistance rates in Canada during the same period.

The results of the surveys were released to mark Antibiotic Awareness Week, which was organized by the National Information Program on Antibiotics (NIPA), a coalition of 8 health organizations (including the CMA) concerned with the issue of appropriate use of antibiotics in Canada.

"Canada is now a world leader in efforts to reduce the public health burden of antibiotic resistance, but we still have a long way to go," said Dr. Ronald Grossman, the NIPA chair. "Since the introduction of several patient, pharmacist and physician education initiatives in 1996, prescriptions for penicillin and other oral antibiotics have decreased by 4%."

Grossman added that antibiotic resistance rates of Streptococcus pneumoniae, the most common bacterial cause of serious infections like community-acquired pneumonia, ear infections, sinusitis and bronchitis, have also stabilized or decreased. "This is particularly impressive because we know from other countries' experience that, without intervention, resistance rates could have been expected to double in the last three years," he said.

A national poll of physicians revealed that 79% changed their prescribing practices to treat respiratory symptoms during the past 3 years. A similar survey of Canadians who were prescribed an antibiotic during the past 3 years found that, compared with 3 years ago, 55% would be less likely to ask for a prescription for antibiotics when they have a cold or flu. Grossman says this is very positive news, since most colds and flu cases result from viral infections that cannot be treated with antibiotics.

The growth in antibiotic resistance rates has become a major concern to health care professionals during the past two decades. Infectious disease specialists use the antibiotic penicillin as a general marker to track antibiotic resistance. Before the late 1980s, all pneumonia-causing bacteria responded to penicillin treatment. By about 1990, specialists began finding resistant strains of bacteria that would not respond to penicillin. Since then, resistance to penicillin and other antibiotics has increased dramatically.

"Inappropriate use of antibiotics not only contributes to the growing financial burden on our health care system, but it also creates a hazard for all Canadians who could be affected by the problem of antibiotic resistant bacteria," said Dr. Paul Hasselback, medical officer of health for Alberta's Chinook Health Region. "Interventions like the NIPA Antibiotic Awareness Week are a much needed step in the right direction."

Other organizations involved in NIPA include the Canadian Infectious Disease Society, Canadian Paediatric Society, Canadian Pharmacists Association, Canadian Public Health Association, Canadian Thoracic Society, College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Lung Association.

Send a letter to the editor Envoyez une lettre à la rédaction

© 2000 Canadian Medical Association