Patients across south Essex are spending less time in hospital and are benefitting from "safer care" after improvements to antibiotic care.
The changes follow a new approach by the Mid and South Essex NHS Trust, which involves switching eligible patients from intravenous (IV) antibiotics to oral medication sooner in their treatment.
The programme is being highlighted during World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week, which runs from November 18 to 24.
Dr Faisal Bin-Reza, consultant microbiologist at the Trust, said: "This change is already having a positive impact on patients.
"When we switch from IV to oral antibiotics at the right time, it means patients recover faster, can leave hospital sooner, and avoid unnecessary complications.
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"It also reduces pressure on our teams, with it taking 22 minutes for nurses to prepare and give IV medication and just 80 seconds for oral antibiotics.
"It's a great example of how better tools and teamwork lead to safer care."
The shift to oral antibiotics is already delivering benefits, including shorter recovery times and hospital stays.
It also lowers the risk of adverse drug reactions by more than 10 per cent.
The Trust’s Antimicrobial Stewardship group is leading the initiative, aiming to improve antibiotic use in hospitals and combat antimicrobial resistance.
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when infections stop responding to antibiotics, making them harder to treat and more dangerous.
The new approach not only improves patient care but also helps to reduce pressure on hospital resources.
Shorter stays free up beds and reduce demand on clinical teams, and there are also environmental benefits.
IV antibiotics require single-use plastic bags, giving sets, and fluids, all of which contribute to a higher carbon footprint.
Oral tablets, by contrast, are more environmentally friendly.
The changes support this year’s World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week theme, "keep antibiotics working", by promoting more sustainable and effective antibiotic use.
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