Doctors Told to Stop Prescribing Antibiotics Inappropriately

Doctors are to be told to stop prescribing antibiotics for common ailments such as coughs and colds because their overuse is helping the spread of killer hospital superbugs.

Health secretary Alan Johnson says doctors must adopt "less of a knee-jerk reaction to prescribing" drugs such as penicillin, as they are ineffective against most colds, coughs and flus which are caused by viruses.

The liberal use of antibiotics has led to strains of killer infections such as MRSA becoming resistant to treatment.

As part of a £270 million campaign against hospital infections, the Government will remind doctors and the public that antibiotics should only be used when necessary.

The campaign, called Clean, Safe Care, will also provide an extra £45 million funding for hospitals to spend on specialist staff such as infection control nurses.

Overuse of antibiotics can cause harmful bacteria to develop resistance, making it harder to cure them in future.

If their use is not limited, then doctors could run out of effective treatments against certain infections as bugs become resistant to a wider range of drugs.

Doctors are being told to cut down on antibiotic prescriptions for common illnesses because their overuse helps superbugs become more resistant

Official guidance advises against antibiotic prescriptions for upper respiratory tract infections, sore throats and ear infection.

But in 2000, antibiotics were still being given to 67 per cent of those with respiratory infections, said Dr Andrew Hayward, from University College London.

Professor Kevin Kerr, consultant microbiologist at Harrogate District Hospital said doctors face huge pressure from patients to prescribe antibiotics.

He said: "These campaigns are desperately needed. The focus has been on cleanliness and washing hands, but without closing the circle by tackling prescribing it is only half the battle."

Figures released by the Health Protection Agency in November suggested hospitals in England may be turning the corner on battling the bugs.

Cases of MRSA fell by 10 per cent from April to June 2007 compared with the previous quarter. Cases of C diff. were also down 7 per cent for the same period.

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "The Government has ignored the link between antibiotics and hospital infections for too long.

"Over-prescribing of broad-spectrum antibiotics is very dangerous."

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "From February 2008, a new nationwide campaign will be launched to remind the public, GPs and other doctors that using antibiotics is not effective on many common ailments.

"The campaign will also highlight that inappropriate use of antibiotics can increase the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of infections and that prudent prescribing is therefore required."