Big appeal to the medical profession Antibiotics rare and properly prescribed

New project to promote more sensitive handling of antibiotics
Antibiotics help combat bacterial infectious diseases and thereby prevent the spread of the pathogens. But the funds are used too often and incorrectly, which leads to an increasing resistance of the pathogens to antibiotics. The Verband der Ersatzkassen (vdek) therefore appeals to the physicians to use the funds in the future with more restraint and only in justified cases.

Physicians too often prescribe unnecessary antibiotics. As shown recently by a study by the Australian Bond University, the active ingredients are often used incorrectly in acute respiratory infections. Because respiratory diseases such as cough or bronchitis are usually caused by viruses - antibiotics, however, only act against bacteria. As a result, in many patients the drugs are ineffective, leading instead to side effects and increased antibiotic resistance.

For acute respiratory diseases, an antibiotics prescription is usually completely unnecessary. (Image: Henrik Dolle / fotolia.com)

The 2014 DAK Health Report also showed that in 2013, nearly 30 percent of antibiotic prescriptions were "questionable" in terms of diagnosis. For many respiratory illnesses, the funds were therefore often prescribed contrary to the treatment guidelines, according to the DAK-Gesundheit.

Physicians too often prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics
In order to curb the inflationary use of antibiotics, the association of the Ersatzkassen (vdek) wants to motivate physicians to use the funds more effectively in acute respiratory diseases and to further reduce the number of unnecessary prescriptions. The framework is formed here in April of this year started supply program "RESIST", which the vdek has developed together with the Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung (KBV), the association reported in a statement.

"Patients' expectations of patients often play a role. For example, some patients think they can get better with an antibiotic faster. However, patients' expectations are often overestimated. Also, out of the false assumption of being on the safe side, too often broad-spectrum antibiotics are prescribed, "said the director of the University of Rostock, Prof. Attila Altiner.

Communication between doctor and patient is the focus
The focus of the program is on education and doctor-patient communication. RESIST recommends that patients with a suspected respiratory tract infection receive specific advice from a home, pediatric, ENT, or internal medicine specialist. By the fall, around 3,000 physicians are expected to have completed a special online education program to put the concept into practice in the field.

"Our goal is to persuade physicians and patients to use antibiotics more sensitively and thereby improve the quality of care," says vdek CEO Ulrike Elsner. (No)