Pharmacists are being urged to warn patients about the dangers of overusing antibiotics as Australia struggles to rein in rapidly increasing rates of antibiotic resistance.
Due to be launched on 1 February, the NPS education program is part of a five-year campaign, with the first year focusing on antibiotics for respiratory infections.
Speaking at the media launch in Sydney last Wednesday, Dr Danielle Stowasser (pictured), NPS clinical adviser, said Australia’s antibiotic consumption was “higher than average” compared with other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member countries.
This comes as data from the Australian Group on Antimicrobial Resistance revealed the rapid rise in rates of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) - from around 10 per cent in 2000 to over 20 per cent...
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