On the eve of World AMR Awareness Week, UKHSA released their latest ESPAUR report. The report, which monitors antimicrobial utilisation and resistance in England annually, revealed the following alarming statistics:
- Deaths in people with an antibiotic-resistant infection increased by 16.6% between 2023 and 2024
- An average of 400 new cases of antibiotic-resistant infections each week in 2024
- A 9.3% rise in cases of bacteraemia caused by antibiotic-resistance in 2024
These escalating trends underline we must urgently act on long-standing recommendations. This includes implementing the call for a diagnostic test prior to antibiotic prescriptions, as outlined by Lord O’Neill’s report almost a decade ago.
With around 80% of antibiotics prescribed in primary care, it is essential that rapid diagnostic tests are routinely available and used in these settings. Their adoption would be a crucial step in curbing unnecessary prescribing and preserving the effectiveness of our existing antibiotics.
In its first year of operation, Pharmacy First was found to be responsible for 4% of antibiotic prescriptions. While low, perhaps reflecting a lack of knowledge of the service and the limited scope of conditions treated, it is important that tests are utilised in pharmacies to ensure this number does not increase significantly.
The report also found that 600,000 women use the Pharmacy First for manage UTIs, with 80% prescribed antibiotics. With existing tests able to rapidly identify the best antibiotic to combat the bacteria of each UTI, it is once again paramount that these tests are adopted to ensure the correct antibiotic is prescribed — to provide women with the best possible treatment while protecting against antibiotic misuse.
However, there were some positive aspects to the report. TARGET — the toolkit used to support primary care clinicians to champion and implement antimicrobial stewardship activities — has published additional evidence-based resources for the prevention and management of recurrent urinary tract infections.
Though, amidst the avalanche of concerning data and with the backdrop of an underwhelming National Action Plan by Government, it is clear that far greater action is required to transform antimicrobial stewardship in the UK.
