Doctors Told To Stop Prescribing Antibiotics For Coughs And Colds To Ensure Infections Don’t Become Resistant To Them
Doctors are being warned not to prescribe antibiotics for simple coughs and colds due to a rise in the spread of hospital bugs.
All GPs will receive a letter from the European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control warning them of the dangers of routinely handing out the drugs.
Experts at the respected Swedish centre say that most prescriptions for the drugs are unnecessary, and they are increasing the number of infections that become resistant to antibiotics.
No pills: Colds should not be treated with antibiotics, say experts
The scientists have warned that life-threatening infections caught in hospital might become untreatable if the antibiotics fail to work.
It will mean that organ transplants, orthopaedic operations and cancer treatment may have to be halted because antibiotics used to protect patients from hospital infections will no longer work.
GPs claim they are regularly under pressure to hand out antibiotics for coughs and sore throats even though they are caused by viruses and not affected by antibiotics.
The European experts say that part of the problem is caused by overly concerned parents who demand medicine for their children.
Dominic Monnet, of the Scientific Advice unit at the ECDC in Stockholm, told the Daily Telegraph: ‘If this wave of antibiotic resistance gets over us, we will not be able to do organ transplants, hip replacements, cancer chemotherapy, intensive care and neonatal care for premature babies.
How To Help Relieve Cold And Upper Respiratory Symptoms
As I said earlier, viral infections can linger for two weeks or more. You may feel terrible for three or four days, but then the symptoms tend to fade away. During this time, you can try over-the-counter medications and home remedies to help relieve your symptoms:If you experience more than one of these symptoms, there are many medications that offer multi-symptom relief. Along with taking medication, stay hydrated and get rest. I know you want to get back to work and your daily life, but your body needs time to heal plus you want to avoid giving the virus to someone else.If you have a fever that lasts more than two or three days, go to the doctor. If your symptoms last more than 10 days, or if you start to get better and then get sick again, see your doctor. Antibiotics are not evil, and we shouldnt fear them. But we do need to use them responsibly to ensure they continue working when we need them for years to come.
- Cough: Expectorant or cough suppressant, steroid nasal spray, humidifier
- Nasal congestion and sinus pressure: Nasal or oral decongestant, steroid nasal spray, humidifier
- Sore throat: Lozenges, humidifier, warm teas with honey and lemon, warm water with salt gargles
- Fever: Acetaminophen,ibuprofen, or aspirin
Our doctors can assess whether an antibiotic would work for you. Schedule an appointment online or call .
How To Avoid Infecting Other People
The period during which one is liable to infect other people varies considerably depending on the type of infection. But avoiding transmission of infectious diseases follows the same basic rules linked to hygiene.
When coughing or sneezing, it is important to do so into the crook of one’s arm rather than into one’s hands. Indeed, because they touch so many things, hands are the number one transmission route for many infectious diseases. For the same reasons, it is important to wash one’s hands thoroughly using soap and warm water several times a day. For some people, it can be more convenient to use a small bottle of alcohol-based hand rub.
Such precautions will help you avoid contaminating other people, including the most vulnerable: new-borns and small children, senior citizens and people whose immune system is compromised . It is not recommended to visit someone at hospital if you are ill.
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Know The Reason Why Do Doctors Prescribe Antibiotics For Viral Infections
Common cold and flu can occur atanytime of the year. Most of the times over the counter drugs and a little rest can cure viral fever. Sometimes, your own medication may not work properly to relieve you from the illness. At such times, many people in India think that antibiotic medicines could do the benefit and they often take antibiotic medicines without even consulting the physician.
It is advised that if a fever lasts longer than the expected time, you must consult your doctor. It is not always necessary that the fever is caused due to viral infections only. You may need some combination of medicines to be able to cope with your illness. Taking on antibiotic medication all by yourself is the last thing you would like to do if you know the dangerous side effects antibiotics could cause to your body when taken unnecessarily. The medicines that help in curing the symptoms are those that help in relieving pain like ibupofen, Dolo 650 and aspirin. Dolo 650 is a mild analgesic that helps in curing fever and relieves pain associated with back pain, arthritis and dental ache. Its main ingredient is paracetamol that eases pain.
What is Antibiotics Meant for?
Why Antibiotics can be Dangerous If Used in Treating Viral Infection?
When to Use Antibiotic Medicines?
Treatment of Viral Infections
Why Do Doctors Prescribe Antibiotics to Treat Viral Infections?
What to do When Doctor Prescribes Antibiotic for Viral Infection?
Misuse of Antibiotic Medicines
When Should You See A Doctor
Most coughs and colds will clear within a week or two and your pharmacist is the best person to consult for advice on symptom relief, while you recover. You should really only see your doctor if:
- Your symptoms persist for more than three weeks.
- You have difficulties breathing.
- You notice a sudden deterioration in your symptoms.
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Hygiene: A Few Fundamental Principles Help Reduce The Risk Of Transmission
Wash your handsWash your hands thoroughly with soap and water several times a day.
Cough or sneeze into the crook of your armIf you do not have a handkerchief nearby, please cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm. This is more hygienic than holding up a hand in front of your mouth. If you do use your hands in this way, you should then wash them thoroughly with soap and water as soon as possible.
Use a paper tissue if you sneeze or cough Whenever you sneeze or cough, hold a paper tissue in front of your nose and mouth.
Why Don’t Antibiotics Work Any More
If you’ve had a cough or a cold in the past and were given antibiotics then got better, you’re bound to believe it was the antibiotics that helped you and will ask your doctor for similar treatment the next time you develop symptoms. The truth is, your previous illness was almost certainly viral and your improvement would have been because your body was already fighting off the infection.
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Data Collected From Scientific Publications
Data collection
We added to the initial list of codes derived from the interviews of GPs, by searching for publications exploring the factors used by GPs to choose an antibiotic. The following MeSH query was used in the MEDLINE database:
We retrieved and reviewed 230 abstracts. Studies were considered eligible for inclusion if they satisfied the following criteria:
-
Focusing exclusively on GPs practicing in primary care
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Exploring factors relating to the choice of antibiotic molecule
Data analysis
The scientific publications selected from the literature review were analysed manually, and independently by JK and RT. For each publication, the factors involved in antibiotic choice were extracted. These factors were then incorporated into the list of codes derived from the interviews of GPs. This resulted in a final list of codes.
Got The Flu Antibiotics Arent For You
The wrong tool for the jobWhat should you do if youre sick?
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Antibiotic Choice Is Guided By Four Main Factors
Our analysis of GP interviews and scientific publications revealed that antibiotic choice was guided by four main factors: the probable causal bacteria, the patients condition, antibiotic properties and general practitioner-related factors.
Antibiotic choice is guided by the probable causal bacteria
Almost all the GPs reported that they chose the antibiotic to prescribe according to the bacterium causing the infection . Identification of the causal bacterium is not easy in primary care, because GPs cannot necessarily perform bacterial tests during consultations. They therefore have to use the patients symptoms and epidemiological data to formulate hypotheses concerning the most likely causal bacterium . The GPs then choose an antibiotic to which they presume the bacterium is susceptible.
Ex1 : The likely infecting organism was also reported as a major influence on which antibiotic to prescribe.
Ex2: For otitis if there is also conjunctivitis, then I prescribe amoxicillin clavulanic-acid, because I suspect the pathogen to be Haemophilus influenzae.
In some cases, GPs may decide to confirm their hypotheses, by prescribing bacteriological tests . However, as the results of these tests may take some time to obtain, GPs are nevertheless obliged to prescribe antibiotics in accordance with their hypothesis, before subsequent readjustment, if necessary, on the basis of bacteriological tests .
Antibiotic choice is guided by the patients condition
Why Your Doctor Won’t Prescribe Antibiotics
Why are some doctors so stingy with antibiotics? House Call Doctor reveals the dangers of antibiotic overuse. Plus – the reason why it’s so hard to get a prescription for antibiotics over the phone.
Have you ever wondered why doctors seem so stingy with antibiotic prescriptions?
I mean, here you are suffering from a nasty cold and you simply cannot be sick right now . Whats the harm in taking a few anti-bacterial zappers? They couldnt hurt, right? Why cant these stuffy doctors just give in a little?
A new patient recently came to see me in clinic. He decided to switch primary care doctors after his previous doctor wouldnt write a prescription for a second round of antibiotics without seeing him in clinic.
Initially, the patient self-diagnosed with a sinus infection, called his doctor, was given one round of antibiotics that didnt seem to work. So he tried to call in for another round but was denied. He was distraught and angry.
I cant come in for every little thing just because he wants to collect my copay and make money off every visit, he exclaimed. So I told him Im finding a new doctor!”
It’s a valid question: Why are some doctors hesitant about prescribing antibiotics, especially without a visit?
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Why Your Doctor Won’t Prescibe Antibiotics
Why are some doctors so stingy with antibiotics? House Call Doctor reveals the dangers of antibiotic overuse. Plus – the reason why it’s so hard to get a prescription for antibiotics over the phone
Scientific American presentsHouse Call Doctorby Quick & Dirty Tips. Scientific American and Quick & Dirty Tips are both Macmillan companies.
Have you ever wondered why doctors seem so stingy with antibiotic prescriptions?
I mean, here you are suffering from a nasty cold and you simply cannot be sick right now . Whats the harm in taking a few anti-bacterial zappers? They couldnt hurt, right? Why cant these stuffy doctors just give in a little?
A new patient recently came to see me in clinic. He decided to switch primary care doctors after his previous doctor wouldnt write a prescription for a second round of antibiotics without seeing him in clinic.
Initially, the patient self-diagnosed with a sinus infection, called his doctor, was given one round of antibiotics that didnt seem to work. So he tried to call in for another round but was denied. He was distraught and angry.
I cant come in for every little thing just because he wants to collect my copay and make money off every visit, he exclaimed. So I told him Im finding a new doctor!”
It’s a valid question: Why are some doctors hesitant about prescribing antibiotics, especially without a visit?
Unfortunately, in spite of what you may have heard, antibiotics dont do a thing for viruses.
What Is Antibiotic Overuse
Antibiotic overuse is when antibiotics are used when they’re not needed. Antibiotics are one of the great advances in medicine. But overprescribing them has led to resistant bacteria .
Some germs that were once very responsive to antibiotics have become more and more resistant. This can cause more serious infections, such as pneumococcal infections , skin infections, and tuberculosis.
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Antibiotics: When You Need Them And When You Dont
Antibiotics often are seen as wonder drugs. And in many ways they are. Antibiotics revolutionized medicine and have saved countless lives over the past century. Unfortunately, many health care providers now rely too heavily on antibiotics and prescribe them when they arent necessary. Patients also have come to expect and even demand antibiotics every time they get sick.Nearly one-third of the antibiotics prescribed in the United States arent appropriate for the conditions being treated, according to a May 2016 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association .Why is this a problem? Because its led to a surge in antibiotic-resistant bacteria that are becoming increasingly difficult to treat. In fact, the first bacteria resistant to last-resort antibiotic treatment was identified in the United States in May 2016.If your doctor prescribes an antibiotic , learn which conditions they can treat, why antibiotic resistant infections are so scary, and how doctors and patients can be smarter about antibiotic use.
Why Would My Doctor Prescribe Prednisone And Antibiotics
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Why Doctors Dont Like To Prescribe Antibiotics Without Examining The Patient
When prescribing antibiotics, a doctor must determine whether the patients illness is due to a virus or bacteria. This is truly not an easy task over the phone or patient portal email. The doctor must ask a series of detailed questions and perform a physical exam before making such a determination.
The Exam: For instance, how can a doctor tell if you have an ear infection without seeing pus in your ear? How can they tell if you are suffering from pneumonia without listening to your lungs and possibly performing other necessary tests? How can they tell if you have strep throat without performing a throat swab or looking inside your throat? Even simply looking at the appearance of a patient can sometimes be an indication of how sick they may be we cant get that over the phone or email.
The History: Also, a detailed history is vital to the decision-making process. For instance, the timing of the symptoms is crucial to determining whether the patient is suffering from the common cold versus bacterial sinusitis . For most patients, taking antibiotics for the first 7-10 days of developing cold symptoms is likely unnecessary bacterial growth does not develop this quickly after a cold. Just because you have severe nasal congestion and sinus pressure doesnt mean its bacterial, and in fact, its often not during those first 7-10 days.
Comparison With Other Studies
Our findings are similar to other studies that suggest most GPs acknowledge that patient pressure or perceived pressure influences their decision to prescribe antibiotics. A recent survey of 1000 GPs in the UK, found that 55% felt under pressure, mainly from patients, to prescribe antibiotics, even if they were not sure that they were necessary, and 44% admitted that they had prescribed antibiotics to get a patient to leave the surgery. A similar proportion had prescribed antibiotics for a viral infection, knowing that they would not be effective.
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Why Your Doctor May Not Prescribe Antibiotics
Weve all been there. Despite feeling miserable, you drag yourself out of bed to see the doctor in hopes of getting medication youre certain will make life better. But instead youre left empty handed and wondering what happened.
Chances are you had a viral infection, and no antibiotic in the world can help that. And by not prescribing antibiotics, your doctor is actually protecting you from getting even sicker. Confused? John K. Lee, MD, from Memorial Care breaks down what you need to know.
What Are Antibiotics Anyway?
Antibiotics date back to 1928 when a scientist discovered that a chemical agent would kill off bacteria microorganisms. These chemical agents are now widely available as various forms of medications used to kill off or prevent bacterial infections from spreading. Common bacterial infections include strep throat, ear infections and urinary tract infections.
How Come They Wont Help My Cold?
With cold and flu season in full swing, there is no shortage of runny noses, sore throats or fevers. These symptoms are typically caused by a virus, a microorganism smaller than a bacterium. No antibiotic will kill off the virus or prevent it from spreading. Often the best course of treatment is to alleviate symptoms with over-the-counter medication, lots of fluids and staying indoors.
Can They Really Be Dangerous?
What Does It Mean For Me?
Even if you think your infection may be viral, its best to have a doctor evaluate your symptoms.
