Changing lab reporting aids better antibiotic prescribing

+Opinion

Changing lab reporting aids better antibiotic prescribing

Max Bloomfield
Pills, tablets
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