Local audit: How tightly should we police antibiotic prescribing for urinary tract infection and how should we modify national policy?

Abstract

Hospital protocols for treating infections should be reviewed and updated based on accurate local data. These data should be used for formulating regional specific protocols. Our results suggest that meroponem and ciprofloxacin should be reserved for microbiologically proven resistance to other antibiotics.

Antibiotic resistance in urinary tract infections: A re-visit after five years and experience over two sites

“…This audit demonstrated a concerning increase in resistance to ciprofloxacin and co-amoxiclav, two of the broadest-spectrum options for oral treatment of urinary tract infection (UTI). 2 Since that time there has been growing recognition of the global importance of AMR. In 2019, the UK Government published its second five-year national action plan, which defined standards across 15 areas of practice, including strengthening antibiotic stewardship.…”

“…On-going surveillance of antibiotic resistance and tailoring of the local antibiotic regimen with regular amendments, may help reduce or slow AMR, 8 as well as being important in ensuring that patients receive effective empirical antibiotic treatment. This is especially important given that NICE Guidance recommends that the majority of women with uncomplicated UTI are treated empirically without culture confirmation of their infection.…”