Skip to main content

Site navigation

  • University of Technology Sydney home
  • Home

    Home
  • For students

  • For industry

  • Research

Explore

  • Courses
  • Events
  • News
  • Stories
  • People

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt
  • Study at UTS

    • arrow_right_alt Find a course
    • arrow_right_alt Course areas
    • arrow_right_alt Undergraduate students
    • arrow_right_alt Postgraduate students
    • arrow_right_alt Research Masters and PhD
    • arrow_right_alt Online study and short courses
  • Student information

    • arrow_right_alt Current students
    • arrow_right_alt New UTS students
    • arrow_right_alt Graduates (Alumni)
    • arrow_right_alt High school students
    • arrow_right_alt Indigenous students
    • arrow_right_alt International students
  • Admissions

    • arrow_right_alt How to apply
    • arrow_right_alt Entry pathways
    • arrow_right_alt Eligibility
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for students

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Apply for a coursearrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt
  • Scholarshipsarrow_right_alt
  • Featured industries

    • arrow_right_alt Agriculture and food
    • arrow_right_alt Defence and space
    • arrow_right_alt Energy and transport
    • arrow_right_alt Government and policy
    • arrow_right_alt Health and medical
    • arrow_right_alt Corporate training
  • Explore

    • arrow_right_alt Tech Central
    • arrow_right_alt Case studies
    • arrow_right_alt Research
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for industry

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Find a UTS expertarrow_right_alt
  • Partner with usarrow_right_alt
  • Explore

    • arrow_right_alt Explore our research
    • arrow_right_alt Research centres and institutes
    • arrow_right_alt Graduate research
    • arrow_right_alt Research partnerships
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for research

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Find a UTS expertarrow_right_alt
  • Research centres and institutesarrow_right_alt
  • University of Technology Sydney home
University of Technology Sydney home University of Technology Sydney home
  1. home
  2. arrow_forward_ios ... Newsroom
  3. arrow_forward_ios ... 2020
  4. arrow_forward_ios 06
  5. arrow_forward_ios Pharmacists in box seat to battle antimicrobial resistance

Pharmacists in box seat to battle antimicrobial resistance

18 June 2020

Australian pharmacists are in the box seat to play a major role in the fight against antibiotic-resistant superbugs, according to Dr Lisa Pont who is leading the Prescribing and Health Outcomes stream for Outbreak.

white pills on a blue background

Research shows patients see their GP on average six times year but they see pharmacists on average 14 times a year.

Dr Lisa Pont, a registered pharmacist and Associate Professor at UTS, said having monthly contact with people in their local community put pharmacists at the forefront of educating the public about the right way to use prescribed medications and how to dispose of them properly.

I’m shocked by how many people will flush unused antibiotics down the toilet.

“They also have a very valuable role to play in feeding back information to doctors about how patterns of antibiotic-resistant germs are building within their communities,” Dr Pont said.

“They can share what patients are saying about the efficacy of particular antibiotics and teach patients about seeking further medical advice if the treatment is not working.”

Dr Pont said results from a recent CSIRO survey showing more than 90 per cent of Australians don’t know the difference between viral and bacterial infections proved a lot more needed to be done to educate the community about the value of antibiotics and the risk of losing them.

“I’m shocked by how many people will flush unused antibiotics down the toilet or put them down the sink rather than returning them to their pharmacy for safe disposal” she said.

“Most people don’t realise that this contributes to the high levels of antibiotics we are finding in our waterways and in the environment.

“Pharmacies will dispose of any unused medications safely and free of charge.”

Outbreak will use Artificial Intelligence to analyse national data and show geographic patterns of antibiotic resistance to help guide the decisions doctors make about antibiotic prescription on a local level.

“The system will also be exceptionally useful for pharmacists and doctors working in nursing homes,” Dr Pont said. “Giving them access to real-time information about local superbug hotspots, so they can easily understand which antibiotics are more likely to work for particular elderly patients in particular locations.”

Find out more about studying Pharmacy at UTS

This article was originally published by Outbreak 
Read the original article and its sources on the Outbreak website

Byline

Outbreak
Share
Share this on Facebook Share this on Twitter Share this on LinkedIn
Back to Pharmacy news

Related News

  • Jacqueline Donovan
    Canada calling

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation and the Boorooberongal People of the Dharug Nation upon whose ancestral lands our campuses now stand. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands. 

University of Technology Sydney

City Campus

15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007

Get in touch with UTS

Follow us

  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Facebook

A member of

  • Australian Technology Network
Use arrow keys to navigate within each column of links. Press Tab to move between columns.

Study

  • Find a course
  • Undergraduate
  • Postgraduate
  • How to apply
  • Scholarships and prizes
  • International students
  • Campus maps
  • Accommodation

Engage

  • Find an expert
  • Industry
  • News
  • Events
  • Experience UTS
  • Research
  • Stories
  • Alumni

About

  • Who we are
  • Faculties
  • Learning and teaching
  • Sustainability
  • Initiatives
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion
  • Campus and locations
  • Awards and rankings
  • UTS governance

Staff and students

  • Current students
  • Help and support
  • Library
  • Policies
  • StaffConnect
  • Working at UTS
  • UTS Handbook
  • Contact us
  • Copyright © 2025
  • ABN: 77 257 686 961
  • CRICOS provider number: 00099F
  • TEQSA provider number: PRV12060
  • TEQSA category: Australian University
  • Privacy
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Accessibility