EFFECTS OF CONSUMING UNNECESSARY ANTIBIOTICS REVEALED
Contrary to popular perception, researchers have found that
consuming an unnecessary amount of antibiotics could lead to antibiotic
resistance, a major public health concern.
There are other risks associated with taking unnecessary
antibiotics, such as secondary infections and allergic reactions, the
researchers said.
“Patients figure that taking antibiotics cannot hurt, and just
might make them improve,” said David Broniatowski, assistant professor at the
George Washington University in the US.
“More than half of the patients we surveyed already knew that
antibiotics do not work against viruses, but they still agreed with taking
antibiotics just in case,” Broniatowski added.
For the study, the researchers surveyed 113 patients in an urban
hospital to test their understanding of antibiotics.
They discovered a widespread misconception: Patients may want
antibiotics, even if they are aware that drugs will not improve their viral infection.
These patients believe that taking the medication will not
worsen their condition – and that the risk of taking unnecessary antibiotics
does not outweigh the possibility that they may help.
“We need to fight fire with fire. We need to let them know that
antibiotics can have some pretty bad side effects, and that they will
definitely not help cure a viral infection,” Broniatowski said.
The study appeared in the journal Medical Decision Making.
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