Factors that influence antibiotic prescribing habits for acne

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Identifying factors that influence antibiotic prescribing habits for acne with a view to changing prescribing behaviours and optimising patient care by minimising the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.

• IRAS ID

  171606

• Contact name

  Alison Layton

• Contact email

  alison.layton@hdft.nhs.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 0 months, 0 days

• Research summary

  Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is recognised as a major global problem. The UK Chief Medical Officer and government have identified AMR as a significant issue that needs addressing. Acne represents the commonest inflammatory dermatosis seen worldwide and antibiotics remain a mainstay of management. There is evidence demonstrating that patients harbouring antibiotic resistant Propionibacterium acnes (P.acnes) respond less well to antibiotics and both topical and oral antibiotics are capable of driving resistance in commensal flora.

  UK prescribing habits for acne have changed little over the last decade and antibiotics are still frequently (77%) employed as monotherapy in management (National prescribing database IMIS). This has occurred despite acne guidelines advocating against this approach and supporting regimens that minimise antibiotic exposure and emergence of resistant bacteria.

  This study will examine
  i) current prescribing behaviours for acne in primary and secondary care,
  ii) AMR awareness in relation to acne
  iii) factors which influence prescribing habits
  iv) antibiotic usage before and after implementation of European S3 Evidence Based Acne Guidelines at local level
  v) patient perspective on acne prescribing

  i-iii will be secured utilising an on-line questionnaire developed with a multi-disciplinary team.
  iv will be secured through an established, ethically approved acne database (2004 to date)
  v. will be secured through an online questionnaire which has been developed after reviewing public opinion on this subject, secured through an Acne Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) (REC reference:13/WS/0015 IRAS project ID:119021) 2013-14 and then formulated with the help of a dedicated acne patient panel.

  Results will be used to raise awareness and to develop and inform the dissemination of guidance embracing best practice and the judicious use of antibiotics to reduce the development of antimicrobial resistance as a result of acne treatments.

  Following dissemination of educational information, which will be developed in line with results secured from the initial questionnaire, the survey will be repeated to assess the impact of this targeted education having distributed the education through mechanisms identified as those that influence prescribing practice.

• REC name

  East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  15/EM/0076

• Date of REC Opinion

  11 Feb 2015

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion