Download Use of ANTIBIOTIC EYE DROPS for MECs Patients

Use of ANTIBIOTIC EYE DROPS for MECs Patients.
At a recent OCCG locality meeting the apparent ‘high use of antibiotics’ for MECs patients
was raised. An audit about this from the MECs service was requested and the following
results were found.
OCTOBER 2016 DATA
60 patients (10.73%) were recommended antibiotics in October 2017 post a MECS
appointment or follow up.
 AT DISCHARGE:
32 patients prescribed antibiotics (5 with lubricants)
 AT FOLLOW UP:
27 patients prescribed antibiotics (7 with lubricants)
 POST GP REFERRAL:
1 patient prescribed antibiotics
March 2017 DATA
88 patients (10.79%) were recommended anti-biotics in March 2017 post a MECS
appointment or follow up.
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AT DISCHARGE:
62 Patients prescribed anti-biotics
AT FOLLOW UP:
24 Patients prescribed anti-biotics (7 with lubricants)
POST ROUTINE REFERRAL TO GP (not for onward referral):
1 Patient prescribed anti-biotics
POST URGENT REFERRAL TO OPHTHALMOLOGY:
1 Patient prescribed anti-biotics
Antibiotic prescribing in the MECs service is within nationally accepted limits. The above
analysis of these 148 patients in these months indicates that anti-biotics should not have been
indicated in for18 patients (12%) with the following conditions:
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Aqueous deficiency
Viral Conjunctivitis
Hordeolum
Chalazion
Allergy
This audit will be highlighted back to the optometrists and the prescribing information went
out in their May MECs bulletin to reinforce this. OCCG will be monitoring further use to
ensure that the use goes down accordingly.
A link to the college guidelines for optometrists in the principles of the use and supply of
drugs or medicines can be found here.
Optometrists can differentially diagnose between bacterial and viral conjunctivitis thus
enabling them to correctly indicate when antibiotic use is appropriate. It is also within their
remit to indicate antibiotic prophylactically for any loss of corneal integrity to avoid
infection, keratitis, or corneal ulcers. This should avoid an eye casualty attendance in these
cases.
If you have any comments regarding this or any other part of the service please contact
planned care at [email protected]
Dr Shelley Hayles OCCG
Planned Care Clinical Lead.