Antibiotic policy : government health services : march, 1986

Abstract

The aim of this work is to suggest up-to-date, efficacious and safe antibiotic regimens for the treatment or prevention of disease due to micro- organisms. The guidelines followed were: the need for preventing the emergence and proliferation of antibiotic resistant strains, the possible side-effects of the chemotherapeutic agents, concern for cost-containment and availability of these regimens. It is stressed that these regimens are not intended as a single modality treatment of any infection. The prophylaxis and treatment of sepsis should be based on four corner-stones: (i) strict observation of aseptic technique (ii) proper surgical technique (iii) adequate drainage where indicated (iv) correct use of antibiotics in prophylaxis and treatment of infection. Sepsis is still an important cause of morbidity and death in our patients. The awareness of the limitations of antibiotics and the need for defining their role has stimulated a multitude of trials and publications of varying quality. Some of these, for example the ones concerning the prophylac- tic use of antibiotics, are hotly debated. The Committee was given the responsibility to distill the essence from these writings and temper it with experience, knowledge of antibiotic resistance of local strains of micro-organisms, and hopefully, a dash of wisdom. We would like to thank all those colleagues who so generously gave sound advice. It is earnestly hoped that all those who consult this work will also refer to Sir Robert Hutchinson's "Medical Litany" conveniently printed on the back-cover. May this "litany", a veritable pearl of illuminated thought, guide our future efforts. The Chairman Antibiotic Policy Committee