For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews
Changing lab reporting aids better antibiotic prescribing
+Opinion
Changing lab reporting aids better antibiotic prescribing
Friday 9 August 2024, 03:55 PM

Microbiology labs traditionally report all detected bugs, but a closer look at how these reports influence antibiotic prescribing has led to a breakthrough [Image: freestocks on Unsplash]
A new “exception-reporting” approach developed by Awanui Labs Wellington has halved antibiotic prescriptions without compromising patient care, suggesting a promising new direction for lab reporting nationwide, writes Max Bloomfield
This work has been very thought-provoking for us, as the standard approach of ‘reporting what we grow’ may, in fact, not be the best way to do it
Kia ora and welcome to New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa
Not a subscriber? Unlock this article by subscribing here.