GPs play a crucial role in stopping unnecessary antibiotic use
19 Nov 2025
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that antibiotics, which once easily treated common infections, are becoming less effective. Drug-resistant infections already cause more than a million deaths worldwide each year, and this number is expected to rise.
In Australia, resistance is growing both in hospitals and in the community. Professor Mark Morgan, Chair of the RACGP Expert Committee – Quality Care and a researcher in antimicrobial stewardship at Bond University, says that GPs have a significant influence on antibiotic use.
He says that reducing unnecessary antibiotic prescribing is “everyone’s concern”, and that clinical decisions made in general practice can make a major difference. Most antibiotics in Australia are prescribed by GPs, often for conditions that improve on their own, such as sore throats, middle-ear infections, sinus congestion and acute bronchitis.
Professor Morgan recalls that even 30 years ago, GPs were encouraged to avoid prescribing antibiotics unless the illness was severe or the patient had additional risk factors. The practice of delayed prescribing—waiting to see if symptoms improve naturally—was also common.
He warns against shifting blame to other sectors, such as agriculture or international travel, saying this distracts from the responsibility within general practice. He also highlights new risks, including expanded pharmacy prescribing, which is contributing to higher antibiotic use.
While COVID-19 improved awareness of hygiene and infection-control measures, vaccine hesitancy remains a challenge. Professor Morgan says increasing vaccination rates is essential to prevent illness and reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.
There has been some progress: community antibiotic use has fallen in Australia, although from a higher starting point compared with many other countries. Evidence is also clearer today about the harms of unnecessary antibiotics, including long-term effects on the microbiome and limited benefit in many respiratory infections. This creates more opportunity for shared decision-making between GPs and patients.
Helpful resources for clinicians include evidence-based antimicrobial stewardship strategies on the Australian Journal of General Practice website, antibiotic prescribing guidance on Therapeutic Guidelines, and the RACGP’s First Do No Harm guide, which now includes new materials on otitis media.
Source: newsGP