Reducing antibiotic use requires a commitment from both patients and doctors

It was recently World Antibiotic Awareness Week and Get Smart About Antibiotics Week. According to the CDC, 2 million people in the United States become infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria and 23,000 people die from such infections each year. What’s worse is that antibiotic resistance continues to increase. “To give you an idea of how high the pressure is to prescribe antibiotics, I didn’t get a job once because during the interview I told the lead physician that I only prescribe antibiotic prescriptions when they are warranted.” Following Darwin’s theory of the survival of the fittest, bacteria normally evolve in such a way that they evade destruction by antibiotics. However, inappropriate antibiotic use in health care settings and increasing antibiotic administration to farm animals is creating a rising number of “superbugs” such as MRSA and drug resistant E. coli. Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Conditions Infectious disease Medications Source Type: blogs