Bugging bugs

What is important is to see to it that the effectiveness of the existing antibiotics is ensured and that we use them for purely medicinal purposes Furthermore, Merkel emphasized that this is a global health problem and that all nations must work together to solve this problem of antibiotic-resistant bugs. Some projects like the STRAMA network in Sweden provide a very good model that other countries can and probably will copy and use [4]. Another network against misuse of antibiotics is ReAct-Action on antibiotic resistance [5]. This organization is " aiming for profound change in awareness and action to manage the interacting social, political, ecological and technical forces that drive the rising rate of resistant human and animal infection and the rapid spread of resistance within and between communities and countries ". The crucial points in the battle for correct use of antibiotics and the struggle against increasing antibiotic resistance is education. This education should be aimed at both the general public and health care professionals. The message must be stated loud and clear and repeatedly, over and over again. It seems that the prescribing habits in OOH are of particular concern and should be addressed with a special approach. Furthermore, GPs should be encouraged to use appropriate diagnostic tests before writing a prescription for antibiotics, for example a rapid strep test and perhaps measuring the level of C-reactive protein (CRP). Too much, too often, and inappropriate choice of a broad-spectrum antibiotic is simply bad medicine and as such not acceptable. If left unattended and neglected, this problem could lead to an extremely diffi cult situation and we might face very serious implications with infectious diseases that today we can cure easily, but tomorrow will be a deadly battle for modern medicine. GPs and all other doctors involved in prescribing antibiotics are cooperatively responsibly for future developments. The inappropriate use of antibiotics and the increasing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a major public health concern [1]. A Danish study on an out-of-hours (OOH) primary care service revealed that of those who used this service 15% received antibiotic prescription. Most of the prescriptions (26%) were given after a clinical consultation. However, almost 11% of these prescriptions were given by telephone consultation only. The authors concluded that rational prescription of antibiotics in the OOH primary care service may be prompted in Denmark [3]. In a Swedish paper on management of patients with …