Doxycycline remains a staple antibiotic in Australia’s healthcare system, widely prescribed by doctors for a variety of bacterial infections. Despite ongoing concerns about antibiotic resistance and efforts to optimize prescribing practices, doxycycline continues to be an important treatment option in 2025. This blog post explores the current landscape of doxycycline use in Australia, why doctors still prescribe it, and how its usage fits within broader antimicrobial stewardship efforts.
Doxycycline: A Commonly Used Antibiotic
Doxycycline belongs to the tetracycline class of antibiotics and is effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria. It is routinely prescribed for respiratory tract infections, skin conditions such as acne, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like chlamydia, tick-borne diseases, and as malaria prophylaxis.
Prescribing Trends in Australia
Recent data from the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care shows that antimicrobial prescribing, including doxycycline, remains significant in primary care. In 2022, there was a slight increase in overall antimicrobial prescriptions compared to previous years, reflecting a gradual rebound following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among antibiotic classes, tetracyclines, which include doxycycline, had the highest volume of use in Australia in 2022, with a defined daily dose (DDD) of 3.7 per 1,000 people per day. This places doxycycline among the most frequently prescribed antibiotics, alongside penicillins and cephalosporins.
Why Do Doctors Continue to Prescribe Doxycycline?
- Broad-spectrum efficacy: Doxycycline effectively targets many common pathogens, including atypical bacteria that cause respiratory infections.
- Versatility: It treats a wide range of infections, from community-acquired pneumonia to STIs and zoonotic diseases like Q fever.
- Convenient dosing: Its oral administration and twice-daily dosing improve patient adherence.
- Cost-effectiveness: Doxycycline is generally affordable and widely available under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
- Resistance considerations: While antibiotic resistance is a concern, doxycycline remains effective against many strains, and its use is guided by clinical guidelines to minimize resistance development.
Antimicrobial Stewardship and Responsible Use
Australian healthcare providers are increasingly focused on responsible antibiotic prescribing to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Therapeutic Guidelines and national policies emphasize:
- Prescribing antibiotics only when necessary and appropriate.
- Selecting the narrowest effective antibiotic.
- Using the correct dose and duration.
- Monitoring resistance patterns and adjusting practices accordingly.
Doxycycline’s continued use aligns with these principles when prescribed judiciously for infections where it is the recommended treatment.
Conclusion
Doctors in Australia certainly still prescribe doxycycline in 2025. It remains a key antibiotic due to its broad utility, effectiveness, and convenience. However, its use is balanced with careful stewardship efforts to ensure it remains a valuable tool against bacterial infections while minimizing the risk of resistance.