GOVERNMENT MUST GET A GRIP ON DRUG PRESCRIBING - FINNIE

Written by Ross Finnie on Tue 26th Jan 2010

Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Ross Finnie MSP has urged the Scottish Government to look into drug prescribing, following the publication of official figures showing an increase of over 18% in antimicrobial drugs since 2004.

The figures also showed a 30% increase in drugs known to increase the risk of C. Difficile, despite official guidelines recommending their use be restricted.

Commenting, Mr Finnie said:

"Penicillin and other antimicrobial drugs mean that common infections are no longer life threatening conditions. But it is common knowledge that overuse can lead to some infections developing a resistance to antibiotics. Doctors have a responsibility to remember this before reaching for the prescription pad.

"But some of these drugs can increase the risk of patients contracting C. Difficile, an infection that can be fatal. Experts recommend restricting their use, but today's figures show a 30% increase in one of these drugs.

"There is an ongoing Public Inquiry into C. Difficile, which should consider this.

"But the Health Secretary should also respond to today's report. The Scottish Government needs to get a grip on drug prescribing."

Ends.

Notes to Editors:

The official figures, published today, can be found here: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/6120.html

The report found that:

". . .between 2004 and 2008 there has been an increase of 18.3% in overall use of antimicrobials when expressed as the number of defined daily doses per 1000 population per day (DDD/1000/day).

". . . Guidance published by the Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group (SAPG) in 2009 on management of commonly encountered infections aims to restrict the use of fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins and co-amoxiclav which are known to increase the risk of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Whilst the information in this report predates this guidance, in 2008 eight of the ten most commonly used antimicrobials are those recommended by SAPG.

Looking more specifically at the use of antimicrobials that increase the risk of CDI, ciprofloxacin, the most commonly used fluoroquinolone, has increased by 30% between 2004 and 2008,"