Rational use of antibiotics

Health care professionals play a crucial role in improving the use of antibiotics. They are the ones in most direct contact with patients, responsible for treatment decisions, and the prescription and distribution of antibiotics.

Many ad hoc actions and interventions can be taken to improve the rational use of antibiotics, however formally developed and coherent rational use programs and strategies aimed at human and non-human sectors are likely to have longer lasting effect.

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Where programs do not already exist, they should be established. Where they do exist, they should be continuously improved over time and informed by improved surveillance and monitoring data of resistance levels in the national context.

Programs should be based on the core components of rational use of medicines as recommended by the WHO and may include restrictive, persuasive or multi-faceted interventions.

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Under RATIONAL USE: Health care you will find:

Core components outlines the basic elements necessary to include in an rational use program.

Set up a program describes the use of a five-step project management process to establish rational use programs in health care facilities.

Interventions provides information and resources on restrictive, persuasive or multifaceted interventions for the rational use of antibiotics.

For rational use in animals you can find relevant resources under RATIONAL USE: Food animals: