Pressure leads GPs to increase antibiotic prescribing

The pressure GPs are working under has been linked to increasing broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing in England by health economists at The University of Manchester and University of Southern Denmark.

The association, say the team, means that pressure on GPs could contribute to antimicrobial resistance.

GPs sometimes choose to prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics more often compared to narrow-spectrum antibiotics to avoid time-consuming microbiological tests and discussions with patients who may prefer quick treatment.

However, broad-spectrum antibiotics are more likely to lead to antimicrobial resistance in the population.

Their study, published in Medical Decision Making and led by Dr Thomas Allen from The University of Manchester and Dr Anne Sophie Oxholm  from the University of Southern Denmark, was funded by Novo Nordisk Foundation grant NNF18OC0033978 as well as by Læge Sofus Carl Emil Friis og Hustru Olga Doris Friis’ Legat.

It has long been recognised that many GPs work under pressure: an ageing patient population has more complex care needs which increases the demand for health care.