Dentistry supports antibiotic awareness day
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- Published: Tuesday, 18 November 2014 07:24
- Written by News Editor
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In support of European Antibiotic Awareness Day on the 18th November, the FGDP(UK) has made the entire text of “Antimicrobial Prescribing For General Dental Practitioners” freely available to view on its website (www.fgdp.org.uk) until the end of the month. Dr Graham Stokes, Chair of the BDA Health and Science Committee also said: “The battle against antimicrobial resistance will require concerted action by individuals, agencies and governments. And that is why the British Dental Association is stepping up”.
The FGDP(UK) is committed to combating the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and believes that appropriate evidence-based prescribing is a key weapon in the fight against AMR. By making the FGDP(UK)’s prescribing standards available to consult during November, the FGDP(UK) hopes to increase the awareness of good practice throughout the profession.
The British Dental Association (BDA) has also taken the lead in the battle to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in dentistry. The World Health Organization has identified AMR as a serious threat to public health worldwide. The BDA is now working to present recommendations from an expert summit held at its London Headquarters this week for publication at its Annual Conference in May 2015.
The BDA calls on its members to become an Antibiotic Guardian by taking the pledge to cut the use of antibiotics ahead of European Antibiotic Awareness Day on 18 November.
Dr Graham Stokes, Chair of the BDA Health and Science Committee and one of the initiators of the summit, said: “The battle against antimicrobial resistance will require concerted action by individuals, agencies and governments. And that is why the British Dental Association is stepping up. Dentists are responsible for approximately 10 per cent of all antibiotic prescriptions in the UK and evidence suggests that many patients could be treated more appropriately without antibiotics. It is important we all work together to ensure that the right treatment is given at the right time, with the right funding. We will offer some clear recommendations that can make a difference. This is a problem facing the entire healthcare community, and we can all be part of the solution. The pledge to become an Antibiotic Guardian next week is a chance for all practitioners to do their bit.”
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