The role of the nurse in the rational use of antibiotics

UVOD. Racionalna primjena antibiotika pojavljuje se kao teoretski i praktično važna tema u praksi medicinskih radnika, što uključuje i medicinske sestre, zbog činjenice što otpornost bakterija na liječenje antibiotskom terapijom (tzv. antibiotska rezistencija) predstavlja sve veći izazov u suvremenome svijetu. CILJ RADA. Prikazati i objasniti ulogu medicinske sestre pri racionalnoj uporabi antibiotika. RASPRAVA. Uporaba antibiotika mora obuhvaćati definiciju njezine važnosti i smjernice za odgovorno ponašanje medicinskih radnika (u vezi s propisivanjem i uporabom). Pritom se naglašava uloga edukacije medicinskih sestara, koje mogu – iako je riječ o ideji koja je donekle u povojima – pozitivno utjecati na smanjivanje trenda pojave antibiotske rezistencije. Rad stoga objašnjava ulogu medicinske sestre kao edukatora i daje prijedloge za razradu smjernica. ZAKLJUČAK. Primjena postojećih smjernica (podrobno objašnjenih u radu) i usvajanje novih, univerzalnih za sve zdravstvene sustave, pridonijet će očuvanju djelotvornosti antibiotika osiguravajući pritom učinkovito liječenje bakterijskih infekcija za sadašnje i buduće naraštaje.INTRODUCTION. The rational use of antibiotics appears as a theoretically and practically important topic in the practice of medical workers, which includes nurses, due to the fact that the resistance of bacteria to treatment with antibiotic therapy (the so-called antibiotic resistance) represents an increasing challenge in the modern world. AIM AND OBJECTIVE. Show and explain the nurse's role in the rational use of antibiotics. DISCUSSION. The use of antibiotics must include a definition of its importance and guidelines for the responsible behavior of medical workers (in relation to prescribing and use). In doing so, the role of nurse education is emphasized, which can - although it is an idea that is somewhat in its infancy - have a positive effect on reducing the trend of antibiotic resistance. The paper therefore explains the role of the nurse as an educator and makes suggestions for the further development of guidelines. CONCLUSION. The application of existing guidelines (explained in detail in the paper) and the adoption of new ones, universal for all healthcare systems, will contribute to preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics, ensuring effective treatment of bacterial infections for current and future generations