Thursday, January 28, 2016

Don't Prescribe Antibiotics for Colds: High-Value Advice to Doctors

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.