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Why are we using antibiotics as placebos?

Why are we using antibiotics as placebos? Don’t we care about the future efficacy of these valuable medicines?

Dr Mark Thomas, an Infectious Disease Physician at Auckland City Hospital and Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, discussed antibiotic use in New Zealand and our responsibility to only prescribe them for the right reasons and at the right times. Topics included:

  • There is too much antibiotic use in NZ.
  • Seasonality, coughs and colds and high antibiotic consumption.
  • The dreaded word: resistance!
  • Topical antibiotic use - when to and when not to use them.
  • Treatment of high risk patients, are we doing this right?
  • Our stewardship responsibility and managing patient perception.

 

Resources

 

Presenter

Dr Mark Thomas

Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases

Mark is Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, and an infectious diseases physician in the Department of Infectious Diseases at Auckland City Hospital.

His clinical practice includes caring for patients with infections following surgery, or secondary to immunosuppression, or following travel to developing countries. He is actively involved in research to encourage the wise use of antimicrobials and to reduce excessive antimicrobial consumption.