Common painkillers linked to antibiotic resistance

Press/Media: Expert Comment

Description

The new finding is a reminder for GPs to ‘constantly consider deprescribing’ to avoid doing more harm than good, says one expert.

Subject

Antimicrobial resistance

Deprescribing and polypharmacy

Aged care

Period26 Aug 2025

Media contributions

1

Media contributions

  • TitleCommon painkillers linked to antibiotic resistance
    Degree of recognitionNational
    Media name/outletNewsGP
    Media typeWeb
    Country/TerritoryAustralia
    Date26/08/25
    DescriptionThe new finding is a reminder for GPs to ‘constantly consider deprescribing’ to avoid doing more harm than good, says one expert....
    RACGP Expert Committee Quality Care Chair Professor Mark Morgan echoes those views, saying the study has ‘thrown up a novel way common medicines might be contributing to harm’.

    ‘It used to be a simple equation of more antibiotics leads to more resistance,’ he told newsGP.

    ‘Now we are seeing evidence that antiseptics and, in this research, common analgesics can all contribute to driving antibiotic resistance.’..

    Professor Morgan encourages GPs to ‘constantly consider deprescribing’ when treating patients with multiple medications in light of the growing evidence around antibiotic resistance.

    ‘We should use every opportunity to ask ourselves whether medicines are causing more harm than benefit,’ he said. ‘Are they still needed? Are they still safe for our patient?’

    ‘Our understanding of the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance continues to evolve.
    Producer/AuthorJo Roberts
    URLhttps://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/common-painkillers-linked-to-antibiotic-resistance?utm_source=racgpnewsgpnewsletter&utm_campaign=newsgpedm&utm_medium=email
    PersonsMark Morgan