One of the earliest articles I have published on this blog is focused on the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and a warning given by Margret Chan of the WHO that the current overuse of antibiotics is the main driving force behind this threat. Now, two years later, we are no closer to resolving this problem.
A recent study has shown that almost half of all antibiotic prescriptions given to children in the United States are given to children suffering from viral infections. With a total of about 22 million prescriptions of antibiotics given to American children annually, that means about 11 million are at best pointless. At worst, they are even harmful. Not only are these drugs useless in treating the ailment, but this overuse is what can lead to the increased risk of antibiotic resistance.
It is not that much of a stretch to assume the figures are similar amongst other western nations.
Unfortunately there are few high speed tests for most childhood infections, the strep test being the only one in common use among GPs. Your average family doctor is often under a lot pressure to keep appointments brief and worried parents want a pill that will make their child well again fast. Saying "wait it out a few days" tends to not go over well.
Should we make GPs tell parents that they are not going to give their child medication, explain to them the small part this could play in fighting antibiotic resistance? Of course not. All the parents need do is go to a different doctor who would write the prescription for them.
And it is not just childhood infections that are upping the rates of pointless antibiotic use. Working adults want a pill they can take and then go straight back to work. Taking a day off sick is often frowned upon and there is a psychological aspect to the use of antibiotics against viral infections - a placebo affect that has been well documented.
With antibiotic resistance one of the greatest risks to human health, something does need to be done.
Reduce the use of antibiotics in agriculture, encourage physicians to prescribe them less frequently and, most of all, educate the public about the use of the drugs and the long term risk that overexposure will put us all at.
Thursday 18 September 2014
A hiatus
Until recently I have been locked out of this blog. Now I am back and will begin writing again, so the very few followers that have remained need not worry.
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