This story contains graphic details of medical conditions.
A global study has found New Zealand doctors are using too many antibiotics, risking the growth of superbugs.
An Invercargill mum who suffered for months with an antibiotic-resistant infection says something needs to change.
Jess Barnfather was infected with MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) during a caesarean section at Dunedin Hospital in 2020.
NZ doctors using too many antibiotics, risking superbug growth
Checkpoint
MRSA is a type of staph infection resistant to antibiotics like penicillin.
She said it took four weeks in hospital and six months at home to recover.
“It was probably the worst infection I’ve ever experienced in my lifetime,” she said.
“So it first started off with my C-section incision having quite a lot of sharp stabbing pains every couple seconds… Once my wound had broken down, it opened up and all this pus had leaked out. I had a temperature so high, my face literally felt like it was on fire.”
Because MRSA is resistant to typical treatments, Barnfather was given vancomycin, a much heavier antibiotic with a long list of side effects.
“That was pretty intense. Every time they would push it through my IV line, my vein would blow,” she said.
“So my vein would basically collapse and it would literally burn my whole arm and my arm would swell every time.”
Infectious disease doctor Steve Ritchie says as a country New Zealand is a high user of antibiotics.
Supplied / Dr Steve Ritchie
Dr Steve Ritchie, an infectious disease doctor at Auckland City Hospital, said treating superbugs like MRSA was especially challenging.
“They’re horrific. Infections caused by resistant bacteria create a whole range of problems, increase the cost of healthcare, the complexity of healthcare. They lead to longer lengths of hospital stay,” he said.
“They’re frankly a tragedy for the poor people who suffer them.”
Global study finds doctors overuse antibiotics
The more antibiotics were used, the more opportunities bacteria had to grow resistant to them.
But a study published Wednesday in The Lancet medical journal found doctors around the world were using antibiotics more than they needed to.
Researchers estimated the ideal number of antibiotic doses, then compared those numbers with the real data.
In New Zealand, they suggested 14.3 daily doses for every 1000 people, but found the true figure was 24.1 doses.
Dr Ritchie said that sounded about right.
“They found an ideal rate for New Zealand and found that we are using antibiotics perhaps approaching two times that ideal rate, which is probably within the ballpark of reality,” he said.
“It’s fair to say we are high users of antibiotics.”
Dr Prabani Wood says antibiotics are completely ineffective against viral infections although patients often asked for them for the flu or a cold.
Supplied / Royal New Zealand College of GPs
Barnfather said her experience had made her keenly aware of how often antibiotics were prescribed.
“There is a complete overuse of antibiotics. Every time I take my kids to the doctor, here’s some antibiotics,” she said.
“Definitely there is a complete overuse of antibiotics and it’s just ridiculous the amount that’s given.”
Dr Prabani Wood, the medical director for the Royal College of GPs, said patients often asked for antibiotics to treat a cold or flu.
But in reality she said they were completely ineffective against viral infections.
“[They] feel sick, can’t go to work, they’ve got a cough… I think there is still that public perception amongst big groups of the population that antibiotics are the answer,” she said.
“But often it’s a case of rest, taking fluids and simple pain relief.”
Dr Ritchie said work was being done across the sector to reduce the use of antibiotics.
“In veterinary care and agriculture, the use of antibiotics has dropped considerably,” he said.
“People in New Zealand have developed a national antibiotic guideline, [and] in our hospitals, we have a small group of really dedicated pharmacists and doctors looking at antibiotic use and trying to optimise antibiotic use.”
Dr Ritchie said overall use was declining, but too slowly, and more work was needed.
