How this fits in

Locum or sessional GPs (locums) constitute over one-third of GPs in the UK (36% in 2017) but the patterns of and influences on locums’ antibiotic prescribing have been unclear. This study showed that locums were more likely than other GPs and nurse prescribers to prescribe antibiotics for acute cough, sore throat, acute bronchitis, and asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations. It also identified factors related to locum work that pose challenges to locums’ prudent antibiotic prescribing and engagement with antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) efforts. More focus is needed to engage locums in AMS, and practices that employ locums need to better communicate with and support locums.