• Molly Courtenay, David Gillespie, and Rosemary Lim.
• Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 OAB, UK.
• J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 2017 Oct 1; 72 (10): 2915-2920.

ObjectivesTo describe the patterns of dispensed non-medical prescriber (NMP) prescriptions for antibiotics in primary care across England between 2011 and 2015.MethodsA retrospective analysis of dispensed antibiotic prescriptions, written by NMPs and medical prescribers between 2011 and 2015 in primary care in England, obtained from the National Health Service Business Services Authority.ResultsBetween 2011 and 2015, the number of NMPs (mainly nurses but also pharmacists and small numbers of allied health professionals) in England, who have independent prescribing capability, has risen by over one-third to nearly 30000. Most of these prescribers provide a broad range of services in primary care. The rate of dispensed NMP prescriptions for antibiotics over this period has increased, as has the percentage of all primary care antibiotics dispensed that were prescribed by NMPs, which is currently nearly 8%. The most commonly dispensed NMP antibiotic prescriptions were penicillin, sulphonamides, trimethoprim, macrolides, tetracyclines and nitrofurantoin.ConclusionsIncreasing numbers of NMPs are working in primary care in England and managing infections. Antibiotics prescribed by this group align with surveillance reports of antibiotic use in primary care. With the numbers of NMPs being set to rise further, they form an important group to involve in antimicrobial stewardship efforts.© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

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