'Alarming' misuse of antibiotics happening in Manitoba: U of M study
A new study out of the University of Manitoba shows antibiotics are being inappropriately prescribed all too often in Manitoba.
The research shows not only are the wrong type of antibiotics prescribed frequently, but the drugs are also increasingly being given to patients whose illness does not need antibiotics at all.
“These findings are alarming,” Dr. Chelsea Ruth said in a news release. She is an assistant professor of pediatrics and child health at the University of Manitoba, who was the co-leader of the study.
“They show that Manitoba physicians are not consistently following Canadian recommendations. This results in an increasing number of unnecessary or poorly chosen antibiotics being prescribed,” Ruth added.
Using data from antibiotics dispensed at pharmacies from 2014 to 2016, more than 2.4 million antibiotics were dispensed in Manitoba. The study found 87 per cent of the prescriptions were written by doctors and the remainder was done by dentists, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and other professionals.
The analysis found 73 per cent of patients with bronchitis were prescribed antibiotics even though it’s usually not needed for the condition.
Prescription practices were also looked at for bladder infection and it was found patients were most often given antibiotics from the quinolone class. Ruth said this class of drugs is not recommended for a bladder infection because they kill other bacteria that do not cause the illness.
In treating pneumonia, the study found the wrong type of antibiotic was prescribed in just over half of patients who were under 15-years-old, at 52 per cent. No matter the patient’s age, the data showed ear infections were treated with an inappropriate antibiotic 23 per cent of the time and throat infections were also treated 30 per cent of the time with the wrong antibiotic.
During the study period, the rate of dispensing antibiotics for conditions that generally do not need them also increased in most age groups and the use of antibiotics increased at a faster rate than population growth. Antibiotic use was highest among seniors and children under five.
Ruth said high use of antibiotics contributes to antibiotic resistance which is a growing worldwide problem. She said that’s when bacteria are overexposed to a drug and are no longer killed by it and getting an unnecessary antibiotic also puts patients at risk for side effects.
“Our results indicate that Manitoba needs antibiotic stewardship programs to educate and support prescribers while promoting optimal prescribing practices,” says study co-leader Dr. Sergio Fanella, who is also an associate professor of medical microbiology and infectious diseases at the University of Manitoba.
Patients who saw their regular doctor had less antibiotic use and were less likely to be prescribed an inappropriate antibiotic. This is why these researchers are recommending patients should try to see their regular health-care provider and Manitobans should have better access to a consistent primary care provider.
Other recommendations include establishing a stewardship program that focuses on the conditions with the highest antibiotic misuse rates, and for feedback to be given to prescribers in comparison with their peers.
The study also found older doctors, physicians who saw more patients each day, and those located in the Prairie Mountain Health region were more likely to incorrectly prescribe antibiotics.
In a statement to CTV News, Doctors Manitoba said it appreciates the study as all physicians want to learn more and provide the best care.
"Doctors Manitoba welcomes new information like this, and we are already working with the authors of the study on sharing the results with all physicians across the province," the statement said.
"Patients should always feel comfortable talking to their doctor about any prescription, including antibiotics, to ensure they understand why it is being prescribed and raising any concern they have."
The study was done at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and is the first to look at antibiotic prescriptions happening outside hospitals in the province.
To conduct the study, the researchers analyzed anonymous pharmacy dispensing data, linking antibiotic prescriptions with the diagnostic codes entered by prescribers for illnesses.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.