A Maryville hospital is taking a proactive approach to make sure its doctors prescribe antibiotics correctly.

According to a news release, SSM Health St. Francis Hospital has assembled a multidisciplinary team to improve antibiotic use, known as the Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee. The hospital said the team provides drug expertise, tracking, reporting and education on antibiotic stewardship. Team member and pharmacist Amie Harris said she wants to make sure people realized that the more antibiotics are used today, the less likely they will still work in the future.

“You need to have the right antibiotic for the job, because they’re not all useful for the same illnesses,” Harris said. “You should be sure it is taken in the right dose for the patient and for the right length of time.”

The hospital said, one main concern of overuse of antibiotics is that they can kill “good” bacteria that actually protects against infection. This can sometimes lead to a serious and sometimes life-threatening diarrhea caused by a germ called Clostridium difficile, also known as C. diff.

“We have done more harm than good,” Harris said. “Over the years we are starting to see more resistant C. diff, and with no new antibiotics being created, we really need to be responsible with what we have and use them appropriately.”

SSM Health said many patients are prescribed antibiotics when they may not be needed. It said people believe that if they get a prescription for an antibiotic, they will get over the cold, flu or sore throat that afflicts them. As many symptoms for viral and bacterial infections are similar, SSM Health said medical providers are pressured into ordering the antibiotic rather than taking the time for a lengthy explanation of why the antibiotic won’t work if it is a virus.  

 For questions or more information about appropriate use of antibiotics, contact the Pharmacy department at SSM Health St. Francis Hospital at 660-562-7925.