Do You Really Need That Antibiotic?

When was the last time you took an antibiotic? Turns out, you may not have really needed it. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association – Internal Medicine reports that antibiotic medications were inappropriately prescribed almost half the time in urgent care centers (45.7%) for respiratory or airway tract related illnesses. While urgent care centers were by far the guiltiest of incorrectly prescribing antibiotics, other medical spaces seem to be too quick to pull out the prescription pad too: 24.6 percent of emergency room visits, 17 percent of medical office visits and 14.4 percent of retail clinic visits prescribed when unnecessary.

Antibiotics work wonders. They save lives. They shorten the length of illnesses. So why is it a problem if they are overprescribed?

For starters, antibiotics can have side effects, such as rashes, yeast infections, and digestive issues, to more life-threatening reactions possible. If you really don't need the medication, it's better not to put your body through these possible side effects.

The bigger issue though, is that over-use of antibiotics can result in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Antibiotics work by killing bacteria, but sometimes a few bacteria may survive by adapting to the antibiotic. That germ can then grow and multiply and will be resistant to that antibiotic in the future. You've likely heard the term "superbug" - this is how these bacteria are formed. Superbugs are extremely dangerous, because antibiotics aren't effective against them, leaving sometimes no other solution.

Doctors know these facts, so why are antibiotics still being overprescribed? The issue may rest on the patient and the doctor in many cases. A lot of people expect a prescription when they are sick and some doctors, or some medical spaces, prioritize patient satisfaction (in search of better reviews and ratings, perhaps). Even though the doctor knows an antibiotic won't work for the common cold, most cases of sore throats, or bronchitis, they may choose to prescribe it to the patient because the patient has requested one.

Another reason a doctor may prescribe an antibiotic is to catch anything that may be "brewing". If you go to the ear doctor with some ear pain and your ear appears mildly red, but doesn't appear to have an active infection, a doctor may decide to prescribe an antibiotic "incase" an infection is beginning. In this case, there may not be any or enough clinical signs that point to needing an antibiotic at that moment, but the doctor may want to prevent the patient from developing an infection.

What can you do? Next time you have a sore throat or a cough, trust your doctor's judgement on whether an antibiotic will actually be beneficial instead of pressuring your doctor for one. If you do need one, follow the instructions carefully on when to start and end the medication.




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