Nobel laureate John Robin Warren has said that people must resist the excessive use of antibiotics to treat even minor ailments. He also warned against the over-prescription of antibiotics by doctors.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 102nd Indian Science Congress, Warren said that the over-use of antibiotics must stop.
"I think one of the current issues globally is the increasing use of antibiotics and the increasing resistance to antibiotics. If that keeps growing, we are going to be in real trouble," warned Warren.
A recent study by George Washington University researchers in the US found that over consumption of antibiotics could lead to antibiotic resistance, affecting treatment of secondary infections and allergic reactions.
"Patients figure that taking antibiotics cannot hurt, and just might make them improve," said David Broniatowski of the George Washington University.
"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," he said.
The researchers surveyed 113 patients in an urban hospital and found a widespread misconception among patients who consume antibiotics to treat even minor ailments.
"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 findings of the study appeared in the journal Medical Decision Making.
No comments:
Post a Comment