This is the first of a series of discussion on antibiotics. Enjoy.
I just had this argument last week.
While preparing for my son’s wedding, someone thought they were sick and were demanding antibiotics from their doctor.
I don’t doubt they were sick (we avoided nearby contact- neither I nor my son could afford to get ill right before the wedding ceremony), but I was pretty sure it was an intestinal virus. And, antibiotics have ZERO utility when the ailment is a virus. Yet, most adults expect to get an antibiotic, when they complain they are sick and visit a doctor. Even if their ailment is the flu, an intestinal virus, or a cold- for which an antibiotic will do absolutely nothing.
But, this is the part that really sticks in my craw. After cajoling their health professional to get a dose of antibiotics, few adults complete the course (7 to 10 days) of antibiotics prescribed. (The census of those failing to complete their dose is roughly 1/2 of those prescribed the drugs.) About the same number of adults who believe that antibiotics are over-prescribed. (In other words, when THEY want the drug, they should get it- even if it’s not needed. YOU, on the other hand, should never get the drugs.)
(You knew there would be a political comment here. No wonder ½ of Americans fail to see the clear case of bribery that TheDonald attempted with the Ukrainians.)
Here’s the real problem. Those leftover antibiotics? Folks (19% of those surveyed by Dr. Preeti Malani [Michigan]) save them for the next time they feel ill- and start taking them, without the prescription from a health care professional. And, since these folks lack the full regimen, it means that if they are sick- they are only taking enough antibiotics to let the microbes in their system develop resistance!
Now, there are problems with the health care professionals, too. Most doctors pick the length of course of antibiotic therapy for kids out of thin air. Because most of the regimens were designed and tested for adult use- not so often for kids.
As is true for adult prescriptions, just enough is best. But, often, many professionals have no clue what is “short enough”. Which is why new studies are being effected. One, a multi-hospital study, under the auspices of Drs. C. Buddy Creech and Derek Williams of Vanderbilt, is attempting to discern the proper length for the amoxicillin treatment of pneumonia. (Short Course Outpatient Therapy of Community Acquired Pneumonia (SCOUT-CAP). Right now, this study is leading folks to believe that a 5 day course of treatment is a better choice than the normal 10 day therapeutic regime for kids aged 6 to 59 months.
There are also studies of urinary tract infections and acute otitis media (AOM, an ear infection), again to discern the proper treatment regimen.
Whatever choices we make, we must take the antibiotics until the infection is eradicated- and not save the “leftover’ drugs to self-medicate later. Especially, since the next time, we won’t have enough drugs to eradicate the infection-instead, there’s just enough to train the microbes to develop resistance!
Years ago, when I got a UTI, I was given 7 days worth of antibiotics. Last time it was 3. For what it is worth, I suspect some antibiotic “hoarding’ has financial roots especially with those who have high deductible plans. A doctors visit can be $200 for those folks. They choose to self diagnose and take their chances. I agree it is not a good idea.
Alana recently posted..Oh Christmas Trees #MusicMovesMe
I don’t disagree that folks figure that the cost of the medicine (most penicillin pills are cheap; I, too, am including the cost of the doctor visit to obtain some) renders the need to hoard pills (that may even be expired), but the dangers to themselves- and the rest of us- needs to outweigh those considerations.