Contributed by: Siddarth D & Dr. Tamhankar
Last week the American College of
Physicians (ACP) and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have
issued advice that doctors should be very judicious about prescribing
antibiotics. It has reiterated that antibiotics should be used after following
assessing the absolute need for it.
In a paper published in the Annals
of Internal Medicine clinicians are given
high-value-advice to only prescribe antibiotics if pneumonia or streptococcus infections is suspected. It
also asks them to reserve antibiotics for colds lasting at least 10 days or
more. The paper asks clinicians to explain to the patients why antibiotics was
not prescribed in their case.
The paper
and advice comes at the right time. It is the season for colds and
respiratory ailments and many people rushing to doctors for medications and
often are prescribed or demand for antibiotics. Following strict clinical
protocols and explaining the use or non-use of antibiotics to the patients can
reduce the dependence on antibiotics for treating respiratory ailments which
are one of the most common causes for people to pop antibiotics.
