8 INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH & OPINION Antimicrobial resistance associated with prescribing at practice level A recent study conducted among general practices in Wales showed a strong association between the use of antibacterials and the rates of resistance to the same antibacterial in these practices. 'This is the first survey to suggest that geographically localised effects from antibiotic use occur in communities', say the researchers. Using prescribing data and data on the susceptibility to antibacterials of coliform organisms in routine urine samples, the study showed that there was a strong association between the prescribing of amoxicillin and trimethoprim and resistance to these antibacterials. The mean number of prescriptions per 1000 patients per year was 352 for amoxicillin and the proportion of organisms resistant to amoxicillin was 53.2%. The respective values for trimethoprim were 63 and 26.3%. Furthermore, combined resistance to ampicillin and trimethoprim occurred in 21% of urine isolates and was significantly associated with the use of both amoxicillin and trimethoprim. The study was conducted over a 2-year period from March 1996 until April1998. Magee IT, Pritchard EL, Fitzgerald KA, Dunstan FDJ, Welsh Antibiotic Study Group. Antibiotic prescribing and antibiotic resistance in community practice: retrospective study, 1996-8. British Medical Journal319: 1239- 1240, 6 Nov 1999 soooo!l46 PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 13 Nov 1999 No. 238 1173-5503/99/0238-0008/$01.00° Adis International Limited 1999. All rights reserved

Antimicrobial resistance associated with prescribing at practice level

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8 INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH & OPINION

Antimicrobial resistance associated with prescribing at practice level

A recent study conducted among general practices in Wales showed a strong association between the use of antibacterials and the rates of resistance to the same antibacterial in these practices. 'This is the first survey to suggest that geographically localised effects from antibiotic use occur in communities', say the researchers.

Using prescribing data and data on the susceptibility to antibacterials of coliform organisms in routine urine samples, the study showed that there was a strong association between the prescribing of amoxicillin and trimethoprim and resistance to these antibacterials. The mean number of prescriptions per 1000 patients per year was 352 for amoxicillin and the proportion of organisms resistant to amoxicillin was 53.2%. The respective values for trimethoprim were 63 and 26.3%. Furthermore, combined resistance to ampicillin and trimethoprim occurred in 21% of urine isolates and was significantly associated with the use of both amoxicillin and trimethoprim. The study was conducted over a 2-year period from March 1996 until April1998. Magee IT, Pritchard EL, Fitzgerald KA, Dunstan FDJ, Welsh Antibiotic Study Group. Antibiotic prescribing and antibiotic resistance in community practice: retrospective study, 1996-8. British Medical Journal319: 1239-1240, 6 Nov 1999 soooo!l46